A number of key trends will shape the future of air traffic management in the coming years. Exactly how the various opportunities and challenges will play out will be discussed in a vibrant session at the Frequentis Theatre on 20 March, as part of Airspace World.
Captain Norazman Mahmud, CEO, Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia, and one of the panellists, says many of the trends result from the increasing demand for air travel and the need for more efficient and sustainable operations.
“Developing and implementing eco-friendly practices, such as optimising flight paths to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, should be a priority for the future,” he says.
Technology will be integral to sustainability success. But integrating advanced communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems, automation, and artificial intelligence into existing ATM infrastructure is a complex task. Updating such systems without causing disruption remains a significant hurdle.
However, as technology becomes commonplace in air traffic management, the risk of cyberattacks increases. “Ensuring the security of communication networks, data and control systems is vital to maintain the safety and integrity of the aviation infrastructure,” agrees Mahmud. “Also, the rise in automation accentuates the importance of addressing human factors. Ensuring effective interaction between air traffic controllers and other personnel with automated systems, especially in handling unusual or emergency situations, remains an ongoing challenge.”
Last but not least, Mahmud highlights the integration of drones and other unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace. “This introduces challenges related to safety, regulation, and technology,” he says. “We must establish clear rules and procedures for the seamless coexistence of manned and unmanned aircraft.”
Read the full interview with Captain Mahmud in Airspace magazine.
Title: Transformations for the future ATM
When: 13:00, Wednesday 20 March
Where: Frequentis Theatre
Skyguide at Airspace World 2024
Visit Skyguide at booth #J21 and discover how the Swiss ANSP paves the way in a changing the ATM industry.
Skyguide will exhibit together with SkySoft-ATM and WEYTEC at the Airspace World in Geneva – the largest and most influential airspace and near-space management event in the world!
The company joins industry innovators from 19 to 21 March 2024 to introduce the recent developments of its professional air navigation related services:
Improvement of operational performance in the field of IFP and airspace structure. Skyguide provides design, verification and maintenance of flight procedures and/or airspace volumes.
Seamless cross-border ATM operations explored at Airspace World
Seamless cross-border air traffic management (ATM) relies on simplifying the complex world of international regulatory harmonisation and agreements.
Participants in a stimulating panel discussion at Airspace World 2024, in the Boeing Theatre on Tuesday 19 March, will explore the critical role of collaboration among nations and organisations in streamlining cross-border airspace management. It will also examine the challenges, enablers and future prospects of harmonisation efforts, highlighting the importance of global cooperation for enhancing the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of international aviation operations.
Victor Liu, Director General, Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong, China, and one of the panellists says: “The Asia-Pacific region has been the fastest growing region in the last few decades, and this will continue to be so according to all the forecasts, including CANSO’s. To maintain sustainable development and efficient operations, collaboration among states, administrations and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) are essential.”
On the panel, Liu will share Hong Kong’s experiences in equipping and enhancing the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department’s capability to play its role, as well as how to collaborate with regional ANSPs and stakeholders with different perspectives.
Title: How AI is transforming ATM
When: 10:00am, Tuesday 19 March
Where: Frequentis Theatre
Your Airspace World highlights for Thursday 21 March
On the last day of Airspace World 2024, Airspace World 2024 will bring together thousands of visitors for three days of exhibition, discussion and debate at the world’s largest air traffic management event.
Thursday sees the first ever selection of sessions aimed at young professionals and students in the aviation industry – Future Skies; Tomorrow’s Voices, as well as hours of other topics.
Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices is produced by CANSO, in partnership with the SESAR Engage 2 Network and Firstfruits Services. It gives young graduates and professionals aged 20 to 28 the chance to dive into the heart of the air traffic management and aerospace industries, engage with decision makers, and gain insights that will help them develop successful careers.
The programme is made up of a number of engaging sessions designed to provide valuable insights and encourage discussions between seasoned leaders and the young participants.
The four other theatres continue to bring the widest range of content to Airspace World attendees. Following on from our highlights of Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 March, here are some of the highlights for Thursday 21 March. For details of all the events, take a look at the full conference agenda.
Commercial space launch and recovery operations – Airspace integration
10:00-10:50, Wing Theatre
Delve into the complexities of seamlessly integrating commercial space launch and recovery activities into existing airspace frameworks. Industry experts and innovators will share insights into the technological advancements, regulatory considerations, and collaborative efforts driving the evolution of airspace integration in the rapidly expanding commercial space sector.
Getting ready for the next decade of investments in ATM modernisation
10:30-12:00, Future Skies Theatre
The aviation community is facing a defining moment. All actors in the network are under pressure to deliver on performance. Decision makers are confronted with difficult “trade-offs” almost daily to push the system to its optimum, reducing cost while increasing efficiency, capacity, access and equity, global interoperability, and delivering on sustainability, security, and safety.
At the same time, thanks to programmes such as SESAR and others, the innovation space in the world has never been so active and productive. The availability of this large wealth of innovations challenges decision makers to make strategic decisions on the right combination of solutions to maximise the impact on performance at local or network level.
How can we prepare for the next decade of ATM transformation ?
Planning for the Disruptions: Lessons Learned from Around the World
11:00-11:50, Boeing Theatre
Planned special events and unforeseen disruptions have been, and will continue to be, a part of the air transportation system. ATM resiliency relies on ANSPs and aviation stakeholders anticipating and proactively planning for these disruptions.
In this panel discussion, experienced representatives from CANSO members around the world will share how some of the large-scale special events and disruptions were managed and the lessons learned that can be applied elsewhere.
If AI was already optimising the operations, which ones would you think of and why are we still talking about it?
12:00-12:25, Indra Theatre
What’s coming next – and soon – in the world of aviation is the emergence and proliferation of new entrants and technologies. How ATC facilitates their safe integration is of vital concern. Join us as we offer the perspective of the labour unions representing aviation safety professionals from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Global Air Traffic Controllers Alliance works to ensure the workforce has a voice and is included in discussions about the future of our airspace and the safe integration of all new entrants and technologies.
Strategies for Talent Attraction: are we doing it right?
12:00-12:50, Frequentis Theatre
This panel explores the effectiveness of current approaches in attracting talent to the aviation industry. We’ll delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations in engaging with new generations, explaining the intricacies of the aviation industry, and motivating aspiring professionals. Our expert panellists will examine existing strategies, share insights, and propose innovative solutions to ensure a diverse, skilled, and motivated workforce for the future of aviation.
The day will conclude with a careers fair tailored for young professionals, providing them with invaluable opportunities to explore career paths, network with industry leaders, and gain insights into the diverse opportunities available in the aviation sector.
Creating Future Skies together
Airspace World 2024 is bigger and better than ever:
170 exhibitors
Thousands of attendees
2,000 air navigation service provider attendees
Over 130 countries represented.
In addition, there is cutting-edge content across five theatres, covering every aspect shaping the future of air traffic management.
Airspace World 2024 wouldn’t be possible without all its sponsors, especially the three platinum sponsors – Indra, Thales and Eve Air Mobility.
Javier Ruano, Executive VP ATM, Indra: The significant challenge in aviation is to become increasingly efficient and sustainable. The key to achieving this goal lies in our continuous collaboration on the development and implementation of new technologies. In recent years, the ATM community has initiated partnerships such as iTEC SkyNex and major public-private initiatives focused on innovation, including SESAR and Startical, a groundbreaking joint initiative by ENAIRE and Indra to establish a satellite network providing global coverage for surveillance and communication services. Air navigation service providers are increasingly demanding advanced systems, and at Indra, we are developing the next generation of automation, communication, navigation, and surveillance solutions, as well as UTM platforms to manage U-SPACE. We are part of a community dedicated to ensuring safer and more comfortable flights for travellers, with a progressively lower environmental impact. At this year’s Airspace World, we will have the opportunity to come together once again to define the future of ATM.”
Christian Rivierre, VP Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales and Eric HuberVP Surface Radar, Thales: “We are delighted to be participating in Airspace World 2024 and Thales is proud to be a platinum sponsor once again. Bringing together the key players in air traffic control as well as 2,000 ANSP attendees, Airspace World is shaping the skies of tomorrow through the presentation of cutting-edge technologies and inspiring conferences. This year’s themes reflect the challenges facing our industry – innovation and collaboration, Advanced Air Mobility, sustainable aviation, surveillance technologies, and the voices of tomorrow that promote our great industry to young air traffic management professionals. Thales is fully committed to providing the industry with answers to the challenges faced, creating innovative and cutting-edge solutions in partnership with its customers and partners. If you would like to find out more about Thales, please visit our stand J25! We would like to thank CANSO for organising Airspace World and bringing together such an impressive high-level audience. Already, we look forward to participating in Lisbon, Portugal, in May 2025!”
Brenden Hedblom, Head of Traffic Management Solutions, Eve Air Mobility: “We’re pleased to sponsor Airspace World 2024 as we advance towards the launch of the urban air mobility market. Eve is taking a holistic approach to the industry with a portfolio of solutions that will make urban flights safe, sustainable, accessible, and efficient. Our Urban ATM services are being developed by bringing proven experience through Atech – an Embraer Group company – in the development of aviation-grade software solutions to the urban environment for an integrated approach supporting all airspace users. These services, enabled by new technology, will support the safe introduction and scalability of eVTOL operations by providing fleet operators, vertiports, and air navigation service providers with the essential traffic and network management capabilities necessary to unlock the industry’s future success. Eve is excited to be at the forefront of developing the next generation of traffic management services and, in close collaboration with our partners and customers, we look forward to making the global urban air mobility vision a reality.”
Agnes Krischik, Airspace World Show Director, said: “Naturally we are very grateful to Eve Air Mobility, Indra, and Thales for their tremendous support of Airspace World 2024. We look forward to making sure that they, and all our exhibitors and attendees, have the best experience in Geneva.”
NATS to reveal blueprint for integrated airspace at CANSO Airspace World
A vision for truly integrated airspace will headline the industry-leading products and solutions being showcased by NATS at CANSO Airspace World in Geneva on 19 – 21 March.
As part of a unique industry collaboration, NATS will demonstrate how Advanced Air Mobility and BVLOS drone operators can be safely and seamlessly integrated into a busy airport environment.
The new concept of operations will illustrate how drone and eVTOL operators can digitally submit flight plans, how they can be seamlessly approved or amended by an air navigation service provider (ANSP), and how digital tower technology can then allow controllers to safely track and monitor every flight within their operation.
The collaboration represents an exciting future where ANSPs can enable truly scalable operations for new airspace users.
Transformative technology. Operational expertise. Unlocking value together.
NATS and Leidos will also be sharing the latest developments with their arrivals spacing tool, Intelligent Approach. Already deployed at Heathrow and Toronto Pearson – NATS and LVNL will share the story behind its recent successful deployment at Amsterdam Schiphol, something that has increased the airport’s capacity by up to six additional landings per hour, per runway.
NATS and Searidge Technologies will be demonstrating how digital tower technology and Artificial Intelligence are being harnessed to improve almost every aspect of an airport operation. Everything from stand plan optimisation, hold line surveillance, traffic light automation, CDM integration and even a fully digital Airport Performance Operation Cell are all now deliverable on a single technology platform.
A pioneering mission to measure global airspace efficiency
A truly global index of airspace efficiency could present a step change in tackling aviation’s contribution to climate change. The combination of world-wide flight data and NATS’ unique three-dimensional airspace efficiency metric – 3Di – could support the creation of a single picture of global aviation efficiency for the very first time.
This would allow ANSPs to measure the environmental impact of their airspace and identify potential for operational improvements. NATS will be unveiling the concept at Airspace World alongside a call to action to the air traffic management community to help bring it to life.
Industry leading speaker sessions
All this alongside a series of fascinating presentations from NATS leaders, ranging from cyber security and the impact of space launches through to understanding autonomy in advanced air mobility, will be seen at the show starting 19 March.
NATS and its partners are also nominated in four categories of the ATM Awards and will be exhibiting on stand M32.
EUROCONTROL and Europe for Aviation at Airspace World 2024
As part of the ‘Europe for Aviation’ team, EUROCONTROL is delighted to be joining the wider aviation community at Airspace World in Geneva. Over the three days, we will be showcasing with our partners how we are working together to drive forward the modernisation, safety and sustainability of European aviation.
Visit the organisations’experts at the Europe for Aviation stand #H22 at Airspace World to learn more about how we are supporting European aviation across a wide range of areas and to see innovation at work.
19 March (09.30-17.30), 20 March (13.30-17.30): Jean Michel Levrez & Anastasiia Khomenok present iNM – EUROCONTROL’s flagship digital transformation project which will help the Network Manager maximise the efficiency, safety and sustainability of the European aviation network through a new generation of cutting-edge, resilient and scalable operational system.
19 March (09.30-17.30) Peter Hendrickx shows how LORD (MUAC’s Lateral Obstacle and Resolution Display) works and how it provides our ATCOs with advanced decision support, also serving as an additional safety net.
19 March (09.30-17.30): Adam Tisza presents the Eco service which MUAC launched in April 2023. The service is aimed at reducing flight emissions across all 24 greenhouse gas pollutants by identifying profiles with a lower environmental impact and proposing them to aircraft operators.
20 March (09.30-13.30): Philippe Very & Gabriel Jarry present ContrailNET – a new initiative aimed at advancing the aviation sector’s efforts to reduce the climate impact of non-CO2 aviation emissions. Its objective is to stimulate contrail research by sharing research datasets which are essential for building and validating physical and observational models.
20 March (09.30-13.30) & 21 March (12.30-16.00): Francois Cervo & Pavlin Belichovsky showcase how the new airspace design principles driven by the latest traffic patterns and military requirements will provide improved airspace modularity and dynamic configuration as well as facilitate cross-border operations.
20 March (13.30-17.30): Olivier Rea talks about EUROCONTROL’s drone activities, in the context of the SESAR programme as well as the support we provide to our Member States especially on airspace risk assessments in the framework of the EASA 2021/664 regulation.
21 March (09.30-12.30): Yves de Wandeler & Charles Walker showcase MIRROR – a new & innovative flight visualisation tool that helps operational stakeholders predict and mitigate delays.
Adacel to showcase latest tool at Airspace World 2024
Adacel Technologies Limited, an industry leader in advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulation and training solutions, is pleased to announce the Company’s participation at Airspace World in Geneva, Switzerland, March 19-21, 2024. Adacel’s exhibit will be located at stand #L15.
In addition to showcasing latest developments in Aurora, MaxSim, and Reval, Adacel is unveiling its latest tool, FAST – Framework for Accelerating System Training. FAST is designed to provide real-time training and testing solutions to operational ATM systems. Driven by Adacel’s state-of-the-art MaxSim simulator engine, FAST interfaces with ATM systems to augment and enhance the training process. FAST has a variety of applications, some of which include:
Evaluating concepts of operation and de-risking implementation.
Validating operational procedures based on realistic traffic scenarios in a representative Controller Working Position (CWP) environment.
Interfacing with existing systems to simulate training scenarios, emergencies, higher traffic levels, and new ATC procedures.
Providing a solution for performance or capacity testing.
“We are thrilled to reunite with our industry peers, partners, friends, and customers at this year’s Airspace World,” shares Daniel Verret, Adacel’s CEO. “Our team’s hard work has led to remarkable progress with our products, and we can’t wait to showcase our latest innovations during the show,” continues Mr. Verret.
Neil Bowles, Adacel’s new Vice President, Air Traffic Management said, “I’m excited to be back at Airspace World and looking forward to our industry’s flagship event. Adacel’s ATM products enable safe and efficient operations from oceanic airspace to innovative digital tower implementation. We are ready to welcome visitors to our stand where they can meet our team and see how tools such as FAST can accelerate system training and help define new concepts of operation.”
Airspace World 2024 app launches
Those registered to visit Airspace World 2024, the world’s largest air traffic management event, can now make exclusive use of the new Airspace World app, available for both Apple and Android phones and devices and available to all registered attendees.
The 2024 event app features enhanced networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect and request meetings with colleagues from across the airspace industry. Upon entering their registration details and setting up their App account, users will be able to see who else is attending Airspace World, send them messages, and invite them to meet.
The app also gives users searchable access to each day’s full agenda of Airspace World’s five theatre sessions and speakers, as well as the full list of Airspace World exhibitors and an interactive event map. Users can bookmark favourites and save meetings to their agendas.
And by visiting the Airspace World Today section, users will have access to a live feed of breaking news stories from Airspace World, as well as any press releases issued by exhibitors while they are in Geneva.
Agnes Krischik, Airspace World Show Director, said: “Airspace World is the largest air traffic management event in the world, and its app will give each of our thousands of attendees the tool they need to make the most of their experience.
“I would especially recommend attendees use the app to find their way around the exhibition floor, choose and schedule the theatre debates and discussions they want to attend, and make the most of its networking features. We’re particularly pleased that, this year, we have given attendees the ability to make appointments to meet the colleagues and contacts they want to see.”
Details on how to download the app and register your details will be sent to attendees in the coming days or you can scan this QR code now.
There is still time to register to attend Airspace World and avoid the queues on day one. Click here to find out more.
Airspace World 2024 – your highlights for Wednesday 20 March
Airspace World 2024 will bring together thousands of visitors for three days of exhibition, discussion and debate at the world’s largest air traffic management event.
As well as visiting the more than 170 exhibitions, Airspace World’s five theatres will deliver a wide range of debate and discussion on topics covering issues as diverse as:
Innovation and digital transformation in ATM
Reimaging ATM operations
Pathway to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Turning the Skies Green
Strengthening Resilience in ATM
Global safety and security
Fostering a Thriving Aviation community
Unleashing the Potential of Drones
Following on from our highlights of Tuesday 19 March, here are some of the highlights for Wednesday 20 March. For details of all the events, take a look at the full conference agenda.
Mind the Gap!: Bridging the ATM Interconnectivity Gap
10:00-10:50, Indra Theatre
In the ever-evolving world of Air Traffic Management (ATM), the old saying “Mind the Gap” takes on a new meaning. The ATM ecosystem is intricately interconnected, where the performance of the entire system relies on its weakest link. With some ANSPs advancing swiftly in technology, others might find themselves trailing. Find out how the aviation industry can facilitate accessible and cost-effective solutions for these ANSPs to bridge this gap effectively.
GUTMA Governance and Data Sharing in Increasingly Scaled, and Shared, Skies
11:00-11:50, Wing Theatre
As uncrewed operations see undeniable momentum and progress toward scale in 2024, the way they share the skies becomes ever more important. Before flights can become more dense, or even overlap, the alignment among operators and service providers begins at a business level. In this session, GUTMA and industry representatives operating in the busy Dallas market will share new resources for governance and data sharing for open source use by operators and service providers, also sharing learnings from recent implementation of these resources.
Synergising Civil-Military Collaboration for Flexible Airspace Management
11:00-11:50, Future Skies Theatre
Effective collaboration between civil and military aviation authorities is essential to ensure the widespread implementation of Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) across all regions. Join experts from, among others, NATO, the European Defence Agency, and EUROCONTROL to hear about how cooperation plays a pivotal role in enabling dynamic cross-border Air Traffic Services (ATS) provisioning.
Enabling Regional Air Traffic Flow Management with Data Exchange.
12:00-12:50, Boeing Theatre
This panel will explore the crucial role of data exchange in enabling cross-border regional Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM), particularly in regions adopting a “distributed” ATFM network concept. It will focus on the implementation and operations of ATFM in various regions worldwide, highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) participating in initiatives like the CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas (CADENA).
The panel will discuss the complexities of ATFM and CDM within this expansive airspace, addressing how CADENA’s success led to the formation of the CANSO Aviation Data Exchange Network for Cooperative Excellence (CADENCE).
Transformations for the Future ATM.
13:00-13:50, Frequentis Theatre
This panel will discuss the landscape of technological advancements and pivotal transformations within the Air Traffic Management (ATM) industry. By exploring the dynamic intersection of innovation and digital evolution, our panellists will shed light on the cutting-edge strategies, technologies, and trends shaping the future of ATM.
