Method of managing and operating aerial vehicles

Aerial vehicles (e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones) travelling in airspace 100 are managed by defining multiple virtual channels in the airspace. Each alternate channel 102 defines a different direction for aerial vehicles to travel along and the remaining alternate channels 104 are designated for aerial vehicles to change between the directions. The channels may be at different altitudes, the highest and lowest being defined by airspace or UAV regulations, and may comprise multiple lanes (Fig.3a-b). To change direction, the aerial vehicle (150, Fig.2) may enter a channel 104 designated for direction change from a channel designated for a first direction (North) and wait for an opening between aircraft travelling along a channel designated for a second direction (North-East). An aerial vehicle (150, Fig.4) may receive a map (200, Fig.4) comprising the virtual channels and determine a route along their defined directions to a destination 152. The route may avoid obstructions like mountain 106 and the geofenced boundary around airport 110.