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Author: Serena Fabbrini

Future aviation workforce needs revamp for technological transformation. The outcomes of Engage 2 panel discussion at Airspace World

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, March 28th 2024 –  On Thursday, March 21st, the panel Future Aviation Workforce and new skills for a transformative future, moderated by Veronika Takacs from Deep Blue and organised by Engage 2, took place during the event “Future skies: tomorrow’s voices” at Airspace World, in Geneva.

The panel was composed by prominent speakers, including Sharon Cooke, CEO of Airways International and Peter Kearney, CEO of AirNav Ireland. They discussed the necessary skill sets for meeting the demands of the future aviation sector. Diana Kelly, the Chief Human Resources Officer at NAV CANADA, Thomas Romig, the Vice President at Airports Council International (ACI) World and Ann Persson Grivas, CEO of Luftfartsverket (LFV) led discussions on potential career paths and identified the skills necessary to bridge the gap between the current and future workforce.

The session highlighted the importance of developing skills with agility to keep up with the ever-changing aviation industry. Participants highlighted the increasing importance of soft skills, especially in customer service, and the need to align skill sets with technological advancements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a paradigm shift in workforce expectations, requiring a recalibration of recruitment and selection strategies. Initiatives are underway to redefine required competencies more frequently. The emphasis is on attracting passionate individuals who embody the evolving ethos of the aviation industry.

To attract young talents, the panel emphasised the need to use innovative platforms like TikTok for employer branding and engage with high school students to cultivate interest in aviation careers. Additionally, accommodating the evolving expectations of the workforce, such as offering customisable work environments and facilitating opportunities like sabbaticals, emerged as crucial strategies to appeal to the younger demographic.
The panel recommended fostering collaboration between industries and educational institutions to ensure a pipeline of skilled professionals. They suggested enhancing mentorship programs, supporting industry-backed master theses, and strengthening links between academia and industry. This should even extend to high school level partnerships.

Engage 2 takes centre stage at Airspace World 2024 with Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, March 26th 2024 –  At Airspace World 2024 in Geneva, Engage 2 hosted the special event Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices. The event made a notable impact, and received significant attention from students and young professionals across Europe, as well as representatives from industry and academia.

Our exclusive Walking Tour was a highlight of the event. It was made possible with the support of SESAR 3JU. The tour provided participants with insights into our consortium’s partners and offered a sneak peek into upcoming events that Engage 2 will be organizing in the months ahead.

The event underscored Engage 2’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration within the aviation community. Engage 2 is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of airspace innovation.

Engage 2 shares its survey on “Open Data and Science for ATM”

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Rome, March 20th 2024 – In a bid to enhance collaboration between industry and academia within Air Traffic Management research, Engage 2 has launched a survey focusing on “Open Data and Science for ATM. The initiative highlights the important role of open science in driving European performance gains and growth in the field.

The survey is available here.

The survey, designed to gather insights from various stakeholders including industry professionals, aviation academics, students and policymakers, delves into three key areas: open data requirements, reproducibility and the formation of an open science alliance for ATM. Participating in the survey, which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, provides an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the advancement of the field.

Engage 2 emphasizes the benefits of embracing an open science approach, which facilitates independent verification and validation of reported impacts and performance levels achieved in ATM. This approach advocates for open access to scientific methods, data, analytical code, and methods, as well as open review of research analyses.

Engage 2 opens the first call for Catalyst Funding in Air Traffic Management

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, March 11th 2024 –  Catalyst funds provide financial support and access to industry collaboration environments. This fosters closer ties between industry and researchers during the crucial early stages of concept development, helping promising ideas reach higher maturity levels.

The application window opens on 11th March 2024 and closes on 13th May 2024 at 5:00 PM CEST. Selected projects are expected to run for a period of 12 months.

Proposals demonstrating original contributions to ATM are encouraged, either directly addressing a pre-defined thematic challenge (details available on the Engage 2 website) or focusing on open, innovative concepts.

Hot to apply and financial details

Proposals must comprise a project description and a project administrative form. Submissions, including a PDF proposal and the administrative form (MS Word format), should be emailed to engage2-coordinator@dblue.it with the subject line “Catalyst Call”.

In this first wave, Engage 2 offers €480,000 to support innovative projects – a total of €960,000 is available to support innovative ATM projects, split across two Calls. Sixteen focused projects will be awarded in two waves.

The maximum individual project grant is €60,000. Single entities or consortia of 2-4 entities are eligible to apply. Each entity must be located in a country participating in the Horizon Europe grant program. There is no minimum number of countries required for consortia.

For a complete understanding of the evaluation criteria and full details of the Call, please visit the dedicated page on Engage 2 website.

Engage 2 PhD Call deadline extended to April 2, 2024

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, February 21st 2024 –  Engage 2 has announced an extension of the deadline for its PhD call to Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The call invites proposals focusing on the long-term evolution of the European ATM system.

The initiative supports groundbreaking research and collaboration in ATM, focusing on the long-term evolution of the European system. Applicants, whether individual entities or consortia, are encouraged to address a broad range of innovative and interdisciplinary projects. The selection criteria prioritize impact on ATM, scientific relevance, research plan quality, and academic merit. Besides financial support, Engage 2 offers learning opportunities, including summer schools and workshops.

For more information and submission details, visit the link or contact Engage 2 at Engage2-coordinator@dblue.it with the subject line “PhD Call.”

Future aviation workforce discussed at Airspace World

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, February 19th 2024 –  The upcoming Airspace World conference in Geneva will host a panel discussion on the future of the aviation workforce and the new skills needed for a transformative future. The panel, titled “Future Aviation Workforce and new skills for a transformative future,” will take place on Thursday, March 21st 2024, from 11:00 to 11:50 at the Frequentis Theatre.

Moderated by Veronika Takacs, Human Factors Lead Consultant from Deep Blue, the panel will feature prominent industry leaders who will share their insights on the evolving landscape of the ATM workforce:

  • Sharon Cooke, CEO of Airways International
  • Peter Kearney, CEO of AirNav Ireland
  • Diana Kelly, Chief Human Resources Officer at NAV CANADA
  • Ann Persson Grivas, CEO of Luftfartsverket (LFV)
  • Thomas Romig, Vice President, Safety, Security and Operation at Airports Council International at ACI World and Chair of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Taskforce “Developing the Workforce of the Future”

The discussion will address the challenges and opportunities presented by the advancements in technology and automation in the aviation industry. The panelists will explore the critical skills needed for future aviation professionals, including the understanding of evolving technologies and their application in ATM systems, data analysis and interpretation, skills to navigate complex situations and develop innovative solutions and the ability to adapt to continuous change and embrace ongoing learning opportunities.

Future Skies: Tomorrow’s Voices is an initiative organized by CANSO, Engage 2 and Firstfruits services aimed at inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals. The full programme of the day, available here, includes two forum sessions where graduates and students who have participated in the three-day event will be able to share their insights and concerns, fostering an open dialogue about their experiences and takeaways. There is also a second panel on the “Strategies for talent attraction and workforce diversity”, as well as a Career Fair, offering invaluable insights and networking opportunities in the aviation and air traffic management industries.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of the ATM workforce and shape your career path in aviation!

Master’s students: get support and insights from Engage 2

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, January 26th 2024 – Are you an ambitious Master’s student seeking to enhance your academic journey and gain valuable industry insights? If so, we invite you to explore an exciting opportunity to receive tailored support and potentially participate in enriching experiences promoted by Engage 2.

Support for MSc theses and other benefits

We are offering support to university students who are in the process of working on the Master’s thesis, starting from February 2024. This support will encompass various aspects, including:

  • Assistance with thesis topic identification
  • Peer-review of the thesis regarding technical content towards the completion of the drafting process
  • Discussion on potential career paths

To further enrich your academic experience, we are pleased to offer additional benefits to selected students, such as participation in international ATM events and internship opportunities with CANSO members.

Eligibility and application

To submit your application, please contact the Engage 2 coordinator at the email address engage2-coordinator@dblue.it with “MSc students opportunity” in the subject line.

To be eligible, you must be a Master’s student already in the process of working on your thesis, with at least a version available in English for Engage to review, as it develops. The thesis topic must be in the ATM sector but can vary and doesn’t need to be directly related to the thematic challenges of Engage 2.

We encourage you to seize this opportunity to elevate your Master’s experience and gain valuable industry insights.

Engage 2 seeks academic input on aviation curricula modernization

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Rome, January 17th 2024 – Engage 2 is reaching out to the academic community in the aviation field to gather insights on how curricula can be adapted to align with upcoming trends in ATM.

The survey, accessible here, seeks to understand the perspectives of academic institutions and faculty on how ATM curricula can be modernized to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. The collected data will be utilized to inform academic decisions and ensure that aviation education remains relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.

A closer collaboration between academia and industry is essential for ensuring that the next generation of ATM professionals is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of the future. This survey is a crucial step in gathering valuable input from the academic community to guide our ongoing efforts to modernize aviation curricula.

The survey comprises a series of questions designed to assess the current state of ATM curricula, identify areas for improvement, and explore potential strategies for modernization. Responses will be kept confidential and aggregated to preserve anonymity.
Engage 2 encourages all members of the academic community to participate in this survey to contribute to the advancement of aviation education and the future of ATM. By actively involving academia in the modernization process, we can ensure that the next generation of ATM professionals is well-equipped to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead