There's another day of packed and insightful content in Airspace World's five theatres on Wednesday. Here are some highlights.

CANSO-IATA Panel: Collaboration to Ensure Airspace Optimization and accommodate growth

Leidos Theatre – 12:00-12:50

As aviation demand continues to grow, optimising airspace capacity while ensuring efficiency and sustainability requires unprecedented collaboration. This panel brings together senior leaders from airlines, ANSPs, and aircraft manufacturers to explore innovative, joint approaches to airspace management. Discussions will focus on:

• How enhanced collaboration between ANSPs and airlines can unlock more efficient, flexible airspace usage.
• The critical role of data sharing and operational coordination in overcoming capacity challenges.
• Balancing growth, sustainability, and resilience in a rapidly evolving, complex airspace environment.

Panellists

Achim Baumann, Airlines for Europe (A4E) Policy Director

Captain Norazman Mahmud, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) Chief Executive Officer

Carlos Cirilo, CANSO Director of ICAO Affairs

Greg Byus, United Airlines Senior Manager for Air Traffic Strategy

James Evans, Airways General Manager – Commercial

Kathryn Leahy, NATS Chief Operations Officer

Malcom An, The Boeing Company Senior Managing Director, Global Strategic Initiatives, Commercial Sales & Marketing

The ASTM Approach to New BVLOS Rules, U-space & Autonomy

Wing Theatre – 11:30–11:55

Global, industry-consensus standards are at a critical juncture to enable and adapt with BVLOS UAS operations, fulfilling requirements in frameworks deferring to these standards. As standards bodies fulfill these requirements, a central objective is to foster interoperability and harmonization and avoid fragmentation that limits advanced operations. With a goal of enabling widespread and equitable BVLOS operations under these forthcoming standards, this is an opportunity to enable the UAS industry for long-term and significant growth.

In this presentation, the ASTM F38 Committee on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Chair will share current ASTM initiatives and priorities in the busy realms of the FAA Part 108 rule to enable BVLOS operations, U-space harmonisation, and autonomy.

Speaker

Mark Blanks, Wing Head of Global Flight Operations, Standards, and Regulatory Affairs

Smarter and Greener: Machine Learning-powered traffic management decision making at LVNL

SANS/NERA Theatre – 16:00–16:25

Fewer delays for airlines and travellers. This is the goal of the Decision Support Tool (DST) developed by Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL). To keep the volume of flights to Schiphol in balance with the capacity of the airspace, LVNL must frequently delay flights by regulating them. Regulating involves delaying flights at their departure airport by holding at the gate, causing the flights to arrive at Schiphol later. These delays are costly for airlines and annoying for travellers. DST uses new simulation techniques and machine learning to achieve an optimal balance between capacity and sustainability, well before flights enter the Dutch airspace.

DST aims to reduce delays for airlines and travellers by providing decision intelligence for more informed ATFM decisions for Amsterdam Schiphol airport and the Dutch FIR. In doing so, the system not only saves valuable time and money for passengers and airlines but also decreases environmental impact by preventing unnecessary fuel usage.

Speakers

Ferdinand Dijkstra, FerWay (representing the TriOpSys consortium) ATM/ATC expert

Steven Geurten, Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland LVNL (Air Traffic Control the Netherlands) Flow management position controller

Sink or SWIM

Frequentis Theatre – 10:30–10:55

Accelerate SWIM efforts using proven SWIM EMS solutions that ANSPs, airports and airlines use today in production today.

A SWIM EMS is part of the same type of modern information exchange foundation that has proven itself in other transportation segments and global finance for over a decade. Its use can extend beyond SWIM and ATM to enrich services by exchanging other types of information. For example, AAM services and applications can exchange information with taxi, ride-sharing and other public transportation services. Information exchange with catering, baggage handling and even airport retail services become not only possible but expected.

Speakers

Wayne Osse, Solace Chief Architect, Global Aviation and Transportation

Transforming skies: Flight Centric ATC as a game changer

Viasat Theatre – 12:00–12:50

Flight Centric ATC represents a new paradigm in airspace management, moving away from the traditional sector-based approach. Instead, the entire airspace is viewed as a unified area, managed by multiple controllers or controller teams collaboratively overseeing all aircraft within it. The goal of this concept is to eliminate sector boundaries, ensuring a more even distribution of controller workload and enabling the management of a higher number of aircraft simultaneously across the entire airspace.

In this panel discussion, five leading experts will discuss the advantages of Flight Centric ATC, as well as potential obstacles to its implementation. The session will include audience interaction, offering attendees the chance to ask questions and delve deeper into the future of this transformative concept.

Panellists

Dmytro Tereshchenko, UkSATSE Unit Instructor Kyiv ACC

Ella Pinska-Chauvin, INTEGRA Consult ATM Senior Consultant

Mara Weber, German Aerospace Center Researcher and SESAR 3 Solution Lead

Predrag Terzioski, EUROCONTROL Senior Expert on Operational Concepts & Requirements

Tobias Finck, German Aerospace Center Project Lead and Business Manager

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), the air navigation service provider (ANSP) in South Africa, was recently awarded Level 2 in CANSO’s GreenATM environmental accreditation programme.

Launched in 2022, the CANSO GreenATM programme offers a framework to assess an ANSP’s progress in environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. The accreditation has five levels, each representing increasingly ambitious standards for sustainability and environmental responsibility across ANSP facilities and airspace operations.

ATNS’ achievement of Level 2 included recognition of their significant efforts in areas such as:

• Environmental governance i.e., Environmental Policy and Planning; embedding an environmental culture and continued implementation and maintaining ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System that comprehensively covers its infrastructure, operations and services.
• Working towards improving efficiency in ATM, such as flexible use of airspace, trajectory optimisation, performance-based navigation (PBN) in en route and terminal airspace, air traffic flow management and improved surveillance coverage
• Having a mature environmental management plan with clear targets and a strong staff culture around sustainability issues.

“ATNS has reached an important milestone with their Level 2 accreditation in our GreenATM programme. Their efforts to adopt more sustainable practices highlight a genuine commitment to minimising aviation’s environmental footprint. We’re delighted to recognise their accomplishment and to support them as they continue making progress in this area,” said Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General.

ATNS commented, “Reaching Level 2 in CANSO’s GreenATM accreditation marks a significant milestone for ATNS, especially as the organisation has been on a journey towards integrating environmentally sustainable practices into the business operations since 2013. Furthermore, in times when the world is increasingly shifting towards lowering environmental impacts and combatting climate change, participation in the programme is a significant validation of ATNS’ commitment. This programme has provided valuable insights into key areas where we can further embed environmental sustainability across our operations. We remain committed to working closely with industry partners and airspace users as we advance toward a more sustainable future in aviation."

The CANSO GreenATM programme encourages ANSPs worldwide to push for higher levels of environmental stewardship and collaborate on shared environmental goals.

We are proud to announce that Skypuzzler and Thales will contribute to scaling the aviation and drone industries by combining their cutting-edge technologies to enable new airspace users and enhance flight safety.

Thales’s Topsky AstraUTM solution covers all phases of the drone mission, from Operator Fleet Management and Mission Planning to Strategic and Tactical Management of the Airspace. The solution aims at streamlining the management of UAS operations through automation and application of customised rule sets. It provides a reliable view of all traffic and shares the situation awareness between authorities and operators, while automatically monitoring conformance during the whole flights.

Skypuzzler’s integrated Digital Air Traffic Control (iDATC) is designed as a module to advance UTM systems. It enables the UTM systems to manage the complexities of all drone operation scenarios safely and efficiently, by providing Conflict Resolution Services (CRS) based on a holistic traffic view through UTM’s real-time data: flight plan data, weather, static and dynamic environment data, traffic information, geo-awareness data, etc.

By adding Skypuzzler’s iDATC solution to Thales’ TopSky UAS portfolio, Thales and Skypuzzler are ready to collaborate and unite their expertise to address the industry demand and needs, offering their services to operators, service providers, and authorities in the aviation and drone ecosystem.

Ludovic Lang, Director, Global Head of Digital Aviation and UTM at Thales, says “Thales embraces the vision of enabling sustainable and safe drone operations within airspaces alongside traditional crewed aviation and a plethora of new airspace users. It requires the deployment of resilient, trusted, scalable, open, and integrated traffic management solutions. The partnership with Skypuzzler is one step further towards the accomplishment of this vision.”

Jesper Skou, CEO of Skypuzzler, says, “Skypuzzler is founded on the vision of developing a solution to address the growing complexity and density of airspace, driven by flight safety to integrate drones, eVTOLs, space vehicles, and other emerging technologies shaping our future skies. With our integrated Digital Air Traffic Control (iDATC) module, we have developed a solution where advanced automation plays a central role in managing complex airspaces across UTM, ATM, and STM domains. Our partnership with Thales represents a significant opportunity for Skypuzzler to integrate iDATC into their UTM system, and we look forward to a productive and successful collaboration.”

NAV CANADA, the Canadian Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), has been awarded Level 2 in the Civil Air Navigation Service Organisation’s (CANSO) GreenATM environmental accreditation programme.

Launched in 2022, the CANSO GreenATM programme provides a structured approach to evaluate an ANSP’s progress in environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. The accreditation consists of five levels, each signifying increasing dedication to ensuring sustainability and environmental responsibility across ANSP infrastructure and airspace operations.

NAV CANADA’s attainment of Level 2 recognises their significant accomplishments in key areas, including:
• Leveraging improvements in surveillance coverage in its vast airspace to deliver improved air traffic services.
• Utilizing advanced performance based navigational approaches to deliver more fuel efficient flight paths for its customers.
• Engaging proactively with communities and undertaking robust analysis on airspace modernization and change proposals.
“NAV CANADA's Level 2 GreenATM accreditation demonstrates the importance of collaborative action within the air traffic management community to achieve meaningful sustainability outcomes. With an area of 18 million square kilometers of airspace, it is the largest ANSP to participate in our GreenATM programme to date. Their commitment to environmentally sound practices is a clear indication of our industry's dedication to minimising aviation's environmental impact, and we are pleased to support their continued advancement,” stated Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General.

NAV CANADA President and CEO Mark Cooper commented, “We are very happy to have achieved Level 2 in CANSO’s GreenATM programme. This recognition reflects the ongoing efforts of our entire team to integrate environmental responsibility into every aspect of our operations. We remain committed to innovating and collaborating in ways that reduce aviation’s environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

The CANSO GreenATM programme encourages ANSPs globally to pursue higher levels of environmental stewardship and collaborate on shared environmental objectives.

For more information about the GreenATM programme, please visit the official CANSO website.

• Frequentis and Dimetor present solution for detecting satellite navigation interference at Airspace World 2025 
• NAVSentry solution alerts pilots and air traffic controllers to signal disruptions before and during flights  
• The partnership strengthens aviation safety by addressing the growing risk of navigation system attacks  

Frequentis is responding to the urgency of protecting satellite navigation from interference to ensure safe aviation by presenting an innovative solution for automated live monitoring and detection of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) spoofing and jamming by Frequentis’ partner company Dimetor, based in Austria.  

Aviation safety relies heavily on GNSS, which are increasingly targeted by cyber-attacks. Because GNSS signals are unencrypted, they are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing – threats that can cause serious disruptions to air traffic. In early 2025, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other global bodies urged states to better protect this critical radio-frequency band. In response, Frequentis is presenting Dimetor’s patented NAVSentry at Airspace World. The software uses mobile network data to detect GNSS interference in real time, providing detailed alerts to air traffic systems to help ensure safer operations.   

“With our mission to contribute to increased safety and performance in ATM and UTM (Air Traffic Management and Uncrewed Air Traffic Management), we bring an answer to the urgent challenge of GNSS interference to the international ATM community gathering in Lisbon. Our partner Dimetor provides an exceptional solution to answer this need,” says Reinhard Grimm, Vice President Air Traffic Management at Frequentis.  

NAVSentry supports a more proactive safety approach by continuously monitoring the airspace for signal interference. By providing earlier and broader awareness of spoofing and jamming threats, it complements Frequentis’ and Dimetor’s mission to deliver safer, more resilient airspace operations. 

“We are proud to partner with Frequentis to introduce NAVSentry to the ATM community. The solution offers unrivalled GNSS interference protection and enables a new safety concept by providing wider, real-time insight into spoofing and jamming through mobile network data. This significantly enhances aviation safety,” says Thomas Neubauer, CEO of Dimetor.  

Frequentis and Dimetor plan to further integrate their capabilities to enrich the services Frequentis delivers to air navigation service providers worldwide.  

Indra Group, a global leader in defense, air traffic, and space, is shaping the future of aviation with innovative air traffic management (ATM) solutions for safer, more efficient, and sustainable skies.

At Airspace World 2025, Indra will showcase its latest developments, which directly address the evolving needs of air navigation service providers and aviation stakeholders. Our solutions are designed to build tomorrow’s skies—more automated, connected, and environmentally responsible. Indra’s Air Traffic solutions, the widest portfolio in the industry, address all ATM/CNS needs with cutting-edge technology.

Visitors will explore our remote digital tower solution fully integrated with Indra’s Tower system, delivering greater flexibility, safety, and operational efficiency to airports of all sizes. We will also present ManagAir, our leading automation platform, deployed in control centers and airports worldwide. ManagAir is the only ATM solution in the world that covers all phases of flight: surface, terminal maneuvering area, and en-route, with the most advanced features, such as A-SMGCS (Surface Movement Guidance and Control) Level 4 and 4D Trajectory.

There will be a full setup of InNOVA Tower System, currently deployed in some of the world’s busiest airports. Indra has been recently awarded a new contract by DSNA, the French air navigation service provider, for significant enhancements of its InNOVA ground surveillance system at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport.

Indra’s leadership extends to its role as a trusted technology partner in major international programs shaping the future of ATM. In collaboration with leading air navigation service providers, we are driving the next generation iTEC SkyNex system and playing a key role in EUROCONTROL’s Integrated Network Management (iNM) programme, enabling greater digitalisation, interoperability, and resilience across Europe’s airspace.

Indra is reinforcing its global leadership though country-wide replacement programmes of air surveillance networks in countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany. The NEO family of radars, with MSSR, S-Band, and 3D L-Band primary radars, constitutes the industry reference in Air Traffic Surveillance.

 With a growing footprint in strategic markets such as Asia-Pacific and North America – serving clients like the US Air Force, US Navy, and FAA, Indra’s Navaids are the leading solution around the world. Indra’s instrument landing system serves over 2,000 runways for safe and efficient landings.

The recently awarded NexCom programme for the US’s FAA places Indra’s Park Air radios as the preferred solution for over 50% of the ANSPs worldwide. The Garex Full-IP VCS family equips ATC facilities in some of the most complex environments, such as in Spain or Dubai.

Indra is the only company offering a complete, state-of-the-art portfolio to manage flights gate-to-gate, from departure to arrival, positioning it as a trusted partner in transforming global aviation.

• After the success of the deployment in Brest in March, Thales’s Green Flag Orchestrator tool has been implemented at the Reims Area Control Centre (ACC) in France, reducing the consumption of fuel per optimised flight by 200 to 300kg.
• Green Flag Orchestrator provides Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs) with more eco-friendly ‘opportunities’, allowing airlines to optimize flight plans, thereby reducing plane fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
• This initiative is part of the EU-funded SESAR JU CONCERTO project, which aims to optimize CO2 reduction opportunities and integrate sustainable air traffic control practices.

Thales and France’s Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne (DSNA) announce the successful implementation of the Green Flag Orchestrator solution at the Reims Area Control Centre (ACC) in France. This milestone marks a new significant step towards more sustainable aviation and aligns with the European Union's environmental goals to reduce 90% of CO2 emissions by 2040.

Using advanced decision-making algorithms, Thales’s Green Flag Orchestrator is a tool for ANSPs to manage ATC (Air Traffic Control)  ‘constraints’ - restrictions imposed by ATC to ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft through controlled airspace, such as altitude restrictions. This tool automatically identifies and suggests ‘opportunities’ to relax some of these ‘constraints’, which are then proposed to airlines, enabling them to optimise their flight plans, thus reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. By ensuring automation and digital coordination, this solution optimizes ANSPs’ workload, while maintaining the same levels of safety and capacity.

This deployment is part of the EU-funded SESAR JU CONCERTO project, which focuses on integrating new technologies and concepts to reduce CO2 emissions and introduce non-CO2 impact management into daily operations. As part of this project, all CONCERTO partners are working to integrate green air traffic control capabilities into the system, balancing capacity and environmental performance.

"The integration of the Green Flag concept at Brest and Reims ACCs aligns with our commitment to promoting a greener aviation industry. This initiative is a crucial step in our environmental strategy and supports our goal of reducing the sector's carbon footprint." Florence Serdot-Omer, Head of Unit Validation of Concept and new Technologies at DSNA.

"Combining advanced algorithms and collaborative tools, the Green Flag Orchestrator empowers Air Navigation Service Providers and airlines to make environmentally conscious decisions, and unlock numerous opportunities for flight path optimization, paving the way for a more sustainable future in air traffic management.” David Antonello, ATM Green Operations Lead at Thales, and CONCERTO project leader

“Congratulations to Thales and DSNA for the successful deployment of the Green Flag Orchestrator in Reims and Brest. This achievement, delivered through the SESAR CONCERTO project, is a great example of the SESAR innovation pipeline in action—transforming promising ideas into tools that deliver immediate environmental benefits. By accelerating the uptake of eco-efficient solutions like this, we are helping to make Europe’s skies more sustainable, flight by flight.” Andreas Boschen, Executive Director, SESAR Joint Undertaking.

EUROCONTROL has released a webtool and a comprehensive guide for flight dispatchers, pilots, air traffic controllers, flow management positions and airports to ensure aviation organisations consider the impact of local decisions on the network as a whole (#thinkNetwork) and to focus on a set of priorities to minimise disruption. These priorities for the aviation sector include prioritising first rotation, disciplined flight plan execution, delivering agreed capacities, realistic schedules, and adverse weather management.

“Air traffic in Europe this summer is expected to be at least 5% above the traffic levels of 2024 – in some areas considerably more. The European air traffic network is saturated and we need to make best use of the capacity currently available. I invite all operational colleagues across Europe to take a look at our new webtool and 2025 guide to see how you can best work with EUROCONTROL’s Network Manager Operations Centre to keep disruptions to a minimum.“Iacopo PrissinottiDirector Network Management EUROCONTROL

The #thinkNetwork webtool allows users to filter according to their profession and priority to see how to best work with the EUROCONTROL Network Manager Operations Centre. A comprehensive overview on the processes operational actors should follow to ensure efficient operations is available in the #thinkNetwork guide.

As part of the #thinkNetwork campaign EUROCONTROL will make available dedicated explainer videos on each of these priorities to best showcase how each component of the Network can crucially contribute to best performance. They will all become available on EUROCONTROL’s YouTube channel.

• Premiere: Frequentis showcases Unified Aeronautical Communications solution simplifying controller workflows through intelligent voice and automation integration 
• Benefits include enhanced safety, usability, and efficiency through one interface 

Frequentis is presenting its Unified Aeronautical Communications solution to customers for the first time at Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon. The solution marks a significant milestone in turning the company’s OneATM vision into reality: enabling air traffic controllers to access both voice and automation functions through a unified interface. 

The concept integrates the X10 voice communication system with the SimCWP automation tool from Frequentis Orthogon, running on the ODS Open Platform, which enables the systems to operate in sync, so information flows smoothly between them. This collaboration between the voice and automation teams demonstrates the technical and operational value of system integration. 

“For the first time, we’re showing how integration can simplify daily work for controllers. This is about delivering value in real workflows,” says Reinhard Grimm, Executive Vice President Air Traffic Management at Frequentis. 

The solution includes two initial use cases, both being demonstrated during Airspace World. The first is a monitoring box displaying all controller–pilot messages for a selected flight event, helping controllers quickly access relevant communication without switching systems. The second enables controllers to initiate a call directly from the CWP HMI to the next sector using a smart button in the track label, reducing handover time and avoiding errors from manual dialling.  

“This is about removing unnecessary steps and making communication more intuitive. The existing voice system remains, but now it’s available directly in the automation display,” explains Reinhard Grimm. 

By bringing together communication and automation, Frequentis reduces complexity at the controller working position, increases redundancy, and supports safer, more efficient operations. The solution is particularly relevant for air navigation service providers aiming to modernise their infrastructure while keeping familiar workflows. 

Unified Aeronautical Communications is available now and will be on display throughout Airspace World 2025. 

Web: frequentis.com/en/air-traffic-management/focus-areas/unified-aeronautical-communications 

Aireon is launching Phase 2 of its work to bring space-based VHF communications to the aviation marketplace – launching development plans for a new equatorial satellite constellation.

Aireon is advancing plans to launch up to 20 satellites in an equatorial orbit in the 2028 timeframe. In addition to VHF, this new constellation will also advance Aireon’s core air traffic surveillance and commercial data capabilities for Aireon customers, further enhancing space‑based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS‑B) coverage, multilateration accuracy, and overall data resiliency for aviation customers.

“As the only company in the world that has developed, launched and certified an operational, safety-grade surveillance network from space, Aireon is uniquely positioned to bring space-based VHF communications from concept to reality. This constellation is a natural extension of our current network to bring enhanced capabilities to our customer base,” said Don Thoma, Aireon CEO.

Starting this year, Aireon will begin the process of identifying vendors for the development of satellites and associated systems for the new satellites. The team will work together through the development, initial testing, and deployment of satellites targeted for the 2028 timeframe.

In 2024, Aireon launched its Space-Based VHF Consortium with NATS, NAV CANADA, AirNav Ireland, Iridium and others. In the past year, the group studied the business case, technical feasibility and concept of operations for VHF, leading to a filing for a spectrum license with the ITU.

Aireon and its partners have worked in close coordination with regulatory and standards-making bodies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and others. Dr. Michael Garcia, Aireon’s Chief Innovation Scientist, participates in the standards development and serves as Lead Editor of an ICAO Manual on Space-Based VHF Communication Systems.

“Space-based VHF holds a great deal of promise for the aviation industry, and it’ll take an industry-wide effort to deploy it and bring it into operation. The participation of our partners NAV CANADA, Iridium, NATS, and Air Nav Ireland, has been instrumental in the work we have achieved so far,” Garcia said.

DLR and NLR will be at Airspace World 2025 with several exciting exhibits on our current research into the future of air traffic management. Visit us at stand #H1710 to discuss and experience how independent research and expertise can contribute to ATM innovation!

This year, you can expect interactive demo systems and research results on topics such as "Air Taxis and Vertiport Management", "Flexible Air Traffic Controller Deployment", "Flight Centric ATC" and "Instructor Support for Performance Based Training". Come and see for yourself, we look forward to meet you in Lisbon:

Vertiport Management
The functional design and the technical equipment of vertiports and vertiport networks are both a challenge and a key driver for the operational deployment of air taxis and the provision of urban air mobility (UAM) services. DLR presents its recent research on vertiports including the design and operation of individual vertiports on a micro-level, but also extended to the macro-level by addressing vertiport airspace network management and network optimization. In addition, the opportunities and challenges of integrating air taxi services and vertiport operations into an airport environment and controlled airspace are under investigation.

Flexible Air Traffic Controller Deployment
As part of the SESAR project “Increased flexibility of ATCO validations - V3” (IFAV3), DLR is demonstrating the way how newly developed algorithms would enable a more flexible ATCO deployment to sectors. Based on sample data, the demonstrator setup shows the results of skill/competency monitoring calculation for fictional controllers, and at the same time the options for deployment to the used Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre sector structure. This demonstrator not only provides insights into how floating skill/competency indicators would replace today’s binary ‘endorsed’/’not endorsed’ practise, but also shows the increased number of options for a deployment compared to traditional endorsements.

Flight Centric ATC
DLR presents the results of validation simulations of the SESAR project “Flight Centric ATC” (FCA), which were conducted together with the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Service Enterprise using the upper Ukrainian airspace as an example. This airspace can be rated as a medium complexity operating environment. Above flight level 275, a total of 21 sectors, which are currently controlled by four area control centres, have been consolidated into a single, flight-centric ATC airspace. In this airspace, controllers were working in single-person operations supported by various FCA-specific air traffic control tools, namely conflict detection and resolution, task manager, measuring tool, filtering, probing and short-term conflict alert.

Instructor Support for Performance Based Training (INSPECT)
With Performance Based Training (PBT), NLR seeks to support personalised training through enhanced performance metrics, learning analytics and support to all stakeholders in the learning and development process. Learning Analytics often focuses on the needs of training managers. In the INSPECT project, NLR supports the learning process itself by supporting the instructor acquire insight into trainees' cognitive process, related to Situational Assessment, Workload Management and Problem Solving & Decision Making. The INSPECT project resulted in two prototypes to support analytics within a training session: an Instructor Live Tool, which provides real-time insights into the trainee’s Situational Assessment and a Debrief Tool that allows instructors to review and analyse training sessions with trainees focusing on the three cognitive competencies. NLR will demonstrate both tools.

Presentations and Walking Tours
DLR and NLR experts will also take part in several SESAR JU walking tours and give a presentation in a hall theatre. Have a look at our full programme.

• Thales unveils its new multi-mission Primary Surveillance Radar, the TRACSIGMA with simultaneous capacity for Approach and Long-Range Air surveillance for both civil and military Air Traffic Control.

• In an increasingly congested air traffic environment, the new TRACSIGMA L-Band radar  is the only radar of its class to discriminate small aircraft at an extended range (300KM), helping ensure the 3NM distance separation over the entire airspace and not just for final approach.

• Inheriting technology from the TRAC family, the TRAC SIGMAoffers higher availability, resistance to jamming and radar interferences (due to S-Band saturation), extended coverage, improved discrimination and accuracy, as well as full 3D air picture ensuring smoother coordination between Civil and Military missions.

With more than 1,200 Air Traffic Control radars installed in over 100 countries, Thales is a leader in this market and today unveils TRAC SIGMA, its new Primary Surveillance Radar, helping to ensure faster coordination between military and civil operations in an ever-congested airspace. With the increasing congestion of airspace due to the growing number of aircraft, military aircraft will need to fly at lower and higher altitudes, and the minimum distance between aircraft will become ever more crucial. In line with ICAO recommendations. It will become essential for both civil and military air traffic controllers to optimize the minimum horizontal separation between aircraft to three Nautical Miles (NM) across the entire airspace - not just during final approach.

The TRAC SIGMA, the latest product from Thales’s worldwide field proven TRAC Primary Surveillance Radar family, leverages the latest in digital technologies; bringing to the market outstanding performances with enhanced detection capabilities at an extended coverage. It is the only radar of its class to discriminate small targets with precision at an extended range (300KM), helping ensure the 3NM distance separation over the entire airspace, while also ensuring approach surveillance.

This radar inherits advanced3D detection capabilities and unmatched discrimination of small aircraft wherever they are flying whether at high altitude, low altitude or long distance, a high availability/reliability due to full redundancy and hot swap component replacement, jamming/interference resistance, as well as compliance with international standards and regulations. The 2 in 1 radar also helps improve life-cycle costs with optimized infrastructure and resources.

Eric HUBER, Vice President Surface Radars, Thales, said, "With over 50 years’ experience in this field, Thales is continuously investing to lead the latest innovations in the Air Traffic Control radar market, helping ensure safer skies. TRAC SIGMA offers a single sensor for simultaneous approach and long-range surveillance supporting all air traffic control missions, and enables ATCOs to meet the challenges related to optimizing an increasingly congested airspace.”

UZAERONAVIGATION, the air navigation services provider for Uzbekistan, has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with DFS Aviation Services (DAS), a subsidiary of the German air navigation service provider DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) at Airspace World 2025. As per the agreement DFS Aviation Services will support UZAERONAVIGATION in the areas of controller training, ATM systems and consultancy services. The agreement was signed by Mr. Djumaev Doniyor, Director of UZAERONAVIGATION and Andreas Pötzsch, Managing Director at DAS.

Mr. Doniyor said: “By implementing high-quality systems and services, UZAERONAVIGATION will strengthen its leading position in the aviation sector in the Central Asia region and consolidate Uzbekistan as an international hub. The strategic partnership with DAS highlights our commitment to advancing air navigation services and operations with innovative technology and know-how.”

“With the provision of vital supplies, DAS is pleased to be making another important contribution to the safety and efficiency of air traffic in Central Asia. We are excited to start this new partnership,” said Andreas Pötzsch, Managing Director DAS.

This agreement is not only the beginning of a longstanding and fruitful cooperation, but also a strong commitment of Germany and Uzbekistan working together to make aviation even safer and more reliable. This new agreement reinforces DAS’s standing in the region as a provider for essential services to the aviation industry.

Airways is set to make an impact at Airspace World 2025, the premier global event for the air traffic management industry – showcasing innovations such as trials of AI for efficiency gains in air traffic control simulation.

Renowned for their pioneering solutions and over 25 years of expertise, Airways International, the commercial arm of Airways, will be at stand H1210 showcasing their advanced capabilities in air traffic control (ATC) training, simulation and selection, uncrewed traffic management, and advanced flight procedure design.

Learn about our world-leading capabilities
At Airspace World, Airways International will be showcasing their range of products and services that help to achieve lower training costs and higher success rates, and support customers to enhance aviation safety and efficiency.

• Airways Training: Maximising quality training outcomes with over 25 years of high-quality, competency-based training
• TotalControl: Providing an immersive learning environment with our advanced ATC simulation with unparalleled photo-real graphics utilising our TrueView graphics technology – and exploring the potential of AI that will change the way we think about simulator piloting and scenario preparation/generation
• SureSelect: Narrowing in on the best ATC candidates with their validated, objective ATC selection tools – a significant factor in Airways achieving 95% ab initio training success rates
• Airways Knowledge Online (AKO): Keeping learners engaged with interactive dynamic content, via a virtual training academy
• AirShare: Supporting Airways to safely and efficiently integrated uncrewed aircraft into their airspace with our uncrewed traffic management system (UTM)
• Aeropath: Designing and developing advanced flight procedures in some of the most challenging airspace in the world.
  

Hear our experts speak
At Airspace World 2025, gain insights from Airways International experts who will be taking the stage in panel discussions and speaking engagements. Don't miss these informative sessions to gain insights into the future of airspace management, uncrewed traffic management, and ATC training.

Jonny Cooke - Head of Products, Airways International
Speaking topic: Integrating Drones and AAM into Shared Airspace – Lessons from New Zealand
Date: Tuesday 13 May | Time: 2.30pm – 2:55pm| Location: Wing Theatre In this session, Jonny will outline Airways’ journey to integrating drones and advanced uncrewed aircraft
into the New Zealand aviation system, the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons learned along the way. From award-winning trials with Wisk in controlled airspace, to enabling uncrewed aircraft operations at the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre – in this session, Jonny will outline how Airways and AirShare are shaping the future of airspace integration.

James Evans - General Manager Commercial, Airways International
Panel topic: Collaboration to Ensure Airspace Optimisation and Accommodate Growth
Date: Wednesday 14 May | Time: 12:00pm – 12:50pm| Location: Leidos Theatre James will join this CANSO-International Air Transport Association (IATA) panel to explore innovative joint
approaches to airspace management - and how enhanced collaboration between ANSPs and airlines can unlock more efficient, flexible airspace usage.

Panel topic: Transforming Air Traffic Training in the Era of Innovation
Date: Thursday 15 May | Time: 10:00am – 10:50am| Location: Frequentis Theatre
In this panel session, James Evans will join global industry leaders to explore how ATC training is evolving to keep pace with innovation. James will discuss some insights into how Airways is utilising advanced technologies to evolve our training, simulation and selection services, and what's to come in this space.

The Airways team looks forward to reconnecting with customers, industry partners, and colleagues at Airspace World 2025, at stand H1210.

ENAIRE, Spain’s state air navigation service provider, is showcasing its latest products, innovations, applications, and services focused on air navigation safety, efficiency, and sustainability at Airspace World 2025, held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 13 to 15 May. The company is also highlighting its strategy to lead digital airspace transformation, with enhanced air traffic management systems and future drone traffic management (U-space) capabilities.

Over 7,000 professionals collaborate at Airspace World 2025, the leading global air navigation event, to build a safe, sustainable, and efficient sky

This annual event brings together air traffic management stakeholders, regulators, supervisory bodies, service providers, and industry leaders, to share insights and innovations that will help shape future improvements in aviation. Over 7,000 professionals, dedicated to creating a safe, sustainable, and equitable global sky, have convened at Airspace World in Lisbon.

Exhibition space

At its shared exhibition space with SENASA and INECO, ENAIRE showcases its Impact & ENAIRE Flow Tools (EFT) airspace optimization programs, the ICARO MAPS aeronautical information portal, the EYWA network monitoring platform, and the GAMMSIM VR virtual simulation platform.

The ENAIRE booth will feature videos highlighting civil-military coordination, the Automated Air Traffic Control System (SACTA), U-space (automated digital drone traffic management), and the new iFOCUCS control position.

ENAIRE’s Director General, Enrique Maurer, will discuss optimizing air traffic capacity for the 2025 summer season at the fair on 13 May. Additionally, Daniel García-Monteavaro, Head of Drone Business Development, will outline ENAIRE’s new role as the exclusive provider of common information services (CISP).

The ‘OCCSET’ and ‘iConspicuity’ projects, driven by ENAIRE, and a third project from the ‘iTEC SkyNex’ alliance, of which the state air navigation manager is a part, are competing for the ATM Awards 2024 in the categories ‘Creating a resilient ATM framework for the future,’ ‘Innovation to enable sustainable future skies,’ and ‘Collaboration and Community,’ respectively.

At the most important event dedicated to ATC Leonardo showcases its latest innovations, offering attendees a first-hand look at cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of air traffic management. Visitors can explore the Leonardo exhibition at the stand H21040 to engage with industry experts and experience live demonstrations of their latest advancements. 

Leonardo is a globally recognized provider of technologies and services for the control of all phases of flight and the management of ground operations, the Towers equipped with Leonardo’s systems have been operating worldwide for decades.

In Air Traffic Control/Management (ATC/ATM) and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) fields, Leonardo has delivered systems worldwide, including fully integrated ATM solutions. Leonardo ATM/CNS systems are scalable and ready to support the increasing demand of air navigation services. Leonardo designs, produces, sets into operation and integrates worldwide primary and secondary radars, as well as meteorological sensors and Operational centres, designed under a ‘distributed intelligence’ concept.

The company designs and manufactures modular and integrated Air Traffic Management systems for both manned and unmanned aircraft. Our Portfolio also boasts trustworthy and technologically advanced Air Traffic Control Systems, radars, surveillance sensors, cyber security solutions, communications and navigation aids, to support operators in the management of every phase in the sector of airport hubs.

The company works to strengthen the ATM sector through CNS Innovation, with a strongly interoperable approach and with great attention to respecting the principles of environmental and economic sustainability. Throughout the event, Leonardo will host presentations covering topics such as Digitalization, Cross-Domain and Global approaches.

The Air Traffic Management today is in the middle of a transition phase: the transition from national based towards continental and global sustainable operations, together with the need of safer information exchange and global security. This challenge requires cross-domain interoperability and seamless communication between all the involved stakeholders, moving towards a wider and balanced system and service-based model, recognizing the importance of these advancements in enhancing global safety, security and sustainability.