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Tag: Airspace world

A new formula for inspiring Tomorrow’s aviation leaders

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

This year’s edition of Airspace World proved to be a success for our project, highlighted by a strong wave of interest and active participation throughout the event.

Central to our presence in Lisbon was our involvement in the Tomorrow’s Voices initiative, promoted by CANSO, which aimed to connect the next generation of aviation talent with industry leaders. Thanks to the collaboration with EUROAVIA and AviAll, this year our activity levelled up the experience for the young professionals we engaged.

A new formula for Inspiration

This year, the Inspirational Tours introduced a brand-new interactive formula designed to break down formal barriers between young talent and senior leaders. We welcomed eight students and young researchers as part of this experience. The innovative format paired structured professional engagement with the “The Insight Trajectory” networking game. Armed with career maps, the participants dove into real-world operational challenges, acting as career investigators. They engaged directly with technical experts, answering targeted quizzes on ATM technologies, artificial intelligence and future operational roles.

The new approach generated engagement across the exhibition floor. All were eager to explore the industry’s evolving landscape and discover long-term career opportunities within the aviation sector thanks to the involvement of experts frommajor companied like: Unifly Consulting, EUROCONTROL, Collins Aerospace, Murzilli Consulting, VIBE Solution, Frequentis, Nokia and ENAV.

The rewarding nature of the initiative was further highlighted by the ultimate prize on the leaderboard: an all-inclusive spot at the upcoming Engage 2 Summer School in Trieste this September.

The lively discussions held once again confirmed the huge value of creating informal, interactive learning moments within major industry events. By transforming traditional networking into an active dialogue, we are strengthening the connections between academic education and industrial reality.

As Airspace World 2026 draws to a close, we look forward to building on the relationships sparked this week and continuing to support the brilliant minds shaping the future of European skies.

The “Insight Trajectory” game lands at Airspace World

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 Insight Trajectory, a high-impact game designed to transform how students and young professionals experience, will take place at Airspace World on Thursday 28th May. Moving beyond traditional event tours, this career-strategy experience challenges participants with structured professional engagement.

Register now! Visit Tomorrow’s Voices page

Equipped with a Future Track Map, participants will step into the shoes of a career investigator. The goal is to navigate the exhibition floor to engage with industry experts in four key roles: Cybersecurity specialist, AI specialist, UAS Operations, and Airspace Management & Design Specialist.

The grand prize: a journey to Trieste

We are raising the stakes for the top performers. The first two participants on the leaderboard who successfully complete their mission will win full travel and accommodation to attend the Engage 2 Summer School in Trieste, Italy, from September 14th to 18th, 2026.

Upcoming events and opportunities in 2026

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

As the SESAR 3 Knowledge Transfer Network, Engage 2 remains committed to driving excellence in ATM research. We are pleased to outline our strategic calendar for 2026, featuring a series of high-level events designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, support the next generation of aviation professionals, and foster technical innovation across Europe.

Advancing transport research: TRA2026

The spring season will commence in Lisbon at the Transport Research Arena (TRA2026), taking place from 18 to 21 April 2026. As a cornerstone of European transport dialogue, TRA2026 provides an essential platform for Engage 2 to contribute to discussions on the digitalisation and decarbonisation of the aviation sector. We invite stakeholders to join us in exploring how our network’s research outputs are shaping the future of European mobility.

Local engagement: Belgrade Open Day

On 22 and 23 April 2026, Engage 2 will host an Open Day in Belgrade. This event is specifically designed to bridge the gap between education and industry, offering high school and university students a unique window into the future of aviation and ATM professions. Through interactive sessions and expert guidance, we aim to showcase the evolving career paths that will define the sector in the decades to come. Specific venue details and the full agenda will be published shortly.

Empowering the next generation at Airspace World 2026

From 26 to 28 May 2026, our focus shifts to Lisbon for Airspace World. We are happy to confirm the return of Tomorrow’s Voices, the programme dedicated to young professionals and students. Central to this initiative will be a new series of Inspirational Tours, offering participants curated access to industry pioneers and cutting-edge technologies. This programme remains a vital link between academic study and professional career paths in ATM.

Collaborative innovation: Hackathon #2 in Zagreb

In the final quarter of the year, Engage 2 will lead a technical Hackathon in Zagreb on 20 and 21 October 2026. This is a joint event organised in collaboration with the DIALOG and AWARE projects. By pooling expertise across different SESAR initiatives, the hackathon aims to solve complex operational problems through rapid prototyping and collaborative coding. It represents a unique opportunity for data scientists and ATM experts to work at the intersection of various research domains.

Engage 2 at Airspace World 2025: inspiring aviation careers

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 took an active role at Airspace World 2025, held in Lisbon by contributing to the second edition of Tomorrow’s Voices, an initiative led by CANSO in collaboration with Engage 2 and Firstfruits Services. The programme is designed to bring young professionals aged 20 to 30 closer to the world of Air Traffic Management (ATM), offering them direct exposure to the sector, opportunities for dialogue with industry representatives and insights into the future of airspace management.

Thematic workshop. The future workforce in the Era of new entrants

A central moment of Engage 2’s participation was the first thematic workshop titled The Future Workforce in the Era of New Entrants. The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities related to the integration of new airspace users, such as drones and advanced air mobility solutions, into the ATM ecosystem. The workshop highlighted the growing need for new interdisciplinary roles, such as architects specialised in urban drone operations and urban planners familiar with U-space design. Participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds engaged in open discussions, with younger attendees in particular pointing out a disconnect between academic training and practical industry needs. Many expressed the need for more hands-on learning and support in navigating the technical language commonly used in aviation.

Panel discussion: exploring career pathways in the evolving aerospace industry

The following day, on 15 May, Engage 2 contributed to the panel Exploring Career Pathways in the Evolving Aerospace Industry”, moderated by Micol Biscotto (Deep Blue, coordinator of the project). The panel brought together experts from leading organisations across the aviation and aerospace sectors – George Vergara (RTX), Snežana Tomčić (AviAll – Aviation for All), Nicola Ni Riada (IFATCA), Romulo Gallegos (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Sabina Zaharescu (CINEA) and Sue Meeks (Infina, Ltd) – who explored the skills required for the future, emerging roles and how to build a meaningful career in a rapidly evolving landscape. One key insight that emerged was the demographic shift currently underway: with a significant portion of the ATM workforce approaching retirement, the sector is at risk of losing valuable mentorship capacity. In this context, Engage 2’s mission to connect junior and senior professionals becomes even more vital, helping ensure that knowledge and experience continue to be passed on to the next generation.

Inspirational Tours: a guided journey through the aviation professions

Among the most engaging activities of the event were the Inspirational Tours, a new format developed by Engage 2 to guide young participants through thematic routes across selected exhibitor stands. Each tour focused on key professional profiles in aviation, including air traffic controllers, AI engineers, cybersecurity experts and U-space service providers. The tours offered an accessible and tangible introduction to both traditional and emerging roles within the sector, with particular attention to future-focused domains such as drone integration and advanced air mobility. Accompanied by a dedicated Career Passport, participants were invited to collect stamps at each stop and take part in short, structured conversations with industry experts. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and plans are already in motion to refine and expand the format for upcoming editions.

Engage 2’s presence at Airspace World 2025 reaffirms its commitment to supporting the future of aviation by facilitating meaningful connections, inspiring curiosity and bridging the gap between today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders in airspace innovation.

Join the Inspirational Tour at Airspace World 2025 – and win!

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Step into the future of aviation with Career Passport: Boarding Your Future – the interactive adventure designed for young professionals and students, developed by Engage 2 as part of the Tomorrow’s Voices programme at Airspace World 2025 (Lisbon, 13-15 May 2025).

🗓️ When?
The Inspirational Tours will take place on Thursday 15 May, between 12:00 and 13:00 at Airspace World.

🎟️ How to join?
Register now to secure your place: https://forms.gle/8R8AEVK16Ygq3s6E6

This isn’t just an exhibit, it’s a mission. With your Career Passport in hand, you’ll explore the industry’s most exciting roles, from air traffic controllers to AI engineers, drone operators, cybersecurity specialists, and more. Meet real aviation experts, hear their stories, and collect exclusive stamps at each stop along your journey.

Visit at least 5 stand per tour and collect stamps, and you’ll be in with a chance to win a €100 voucher to spend on online training courses, the perfect way to invest in your future!

How to play

  1. Get your Career passport;
  2. Start the tours – use the map of the venue to locate the each stop on your tours:
    • Tour 1: Shaping future skies and operational excellence
      Jobs: ATC, CNS Engineer, Cybersecurity specialist, Aviation safety inspector
      (Themes: Digitalisation, Front-Line Operations, and Safety)
      Description: Explore how cutting-edge ATM solutions are shaping a safer, more efficient, and digitally enabled airspace. This tour takes you to the heart of front-line aviation operations, where air traffic controllers manage complex and evolving skies with precision and adaptability. Discover the engineering minds behind the communication, navigation, and surveillance systems that power modern air traffic management and meet the digital innovators integrating artificial intelligence into aviation’s core infrastructure. Finally, step into the safety and security ecosystem: learn how cybersecurity specialists defend aviation’s digital backbone and how safety inspectors uphold the highest operational standards.
      Companies to visit
      • Amper – Digitalisation & Safety
      • CAE – Digitalisation & Operations
      • DFS – Digitalisation, Operations, Safety
      • NOAMAI – Digitalisation
      • Frequentis – Digitalisation
      • Nokia – Digitalisation
      • NATS – Digitalisation & Operations
      • Indra – Digitalisation
    • Tour 2: Innovating tomorrow’s skies
      Jobs: UAS Operator, AI Engineer, HMI designer, U-space service provider
      (Themes: Advanced Air Mobility, Drones, and Innovation Leadership)
      Description: Step into the frontier of aviation innovation. This tour explores how new technologies and human-centred design are transforming airspace as we know it. From uncrewed aircraft systems to advanced air mobility, discover how UAS operators manage drone traffic with precision and situational awareness. Meet AI engineers and digital visionaries developing intelligent, adaptive systems that will shape the future of connected skies. Explore how human-machine interface designers and human factors specialists ensure that innovation remains usable, intuitive, and safe — putting people at the centre of complex systems. Join us to see how tomorrow’s aviation is being imagined, built, and refined today.
      Companies to visit
      • Amper – Advanced Air Mobility
      • Unifly – Drone Integration
      • SkyGrid – Drones
      • DFS – Advanced Concepts
      • DroneTalks – Drone Advocacy
      • Indra – Drones & AAM
      • Nokia – Drones
      • NATS – Drones & AAM
  3. Engage with experts in a 10-minute conversation about different aviation professions, hear their insider stories and be inspired!

Block your agenda for Tomorrow’s Voices at Airspace World 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 is proud to be part of Tomorrow’s Voices, the space at Airspace World dedicated to empowering the next generation of aviation professionals. Across two days – 14-15 May 2025 – Engage 2 will host interactive activities designed to inspire, connect and inform students, young professionals, and innovators of all ages. Register now for Tomorrow’s Voices and take your first step into the future of airspace. Are you a student? You could receive a €100 support contribution to help you attend the event! To apply, simply write to engage2-coordinator@dblue.it.

📍 Tomorrow’s Voices area, Airspace World 2025, Lisbon

📆 14–15 May 2025

Here’s what’s on the horizon.

✈️ Thematic Workshop: The Future Workforce in the Era of New Entrants, 14 May 2025, 09:30–12:30

This first Engage 2 thematic workshop focuses on Thematic Challenge #4: Integration of New Entrants into the ATM System. Through an engaging and hands-on format, the session will explore the skills and career paths of the future, the evolving needs of the ATM sector, and innovative ways to attract young talent. Are you passionate about drones and new aviation frontiers? Then don’t miss this opportunity! Register here: Registration Form Note: seats are limited. You will receive a confirmation upon registration.

🔍 Inspirational Tours

Join us for curated small-group Inspirational Tours across selected exhibitor booths. These guided visits will introduce you to real-world technologies, roles, and career paths in aviation, from operations to innovation, from human-centred design to regulation. Each tour is based on different aviation professional profiles to help you explore the industry through the lens that suits you best. Complete at least three tours to be in with a chance of winning a €100 voucher to spend on online training courses! Register here.

🎲 Board to Fly: The Ultimate Aviation Trivia Challenge

Get ready to put your aviation knowledge to the test with Board to Fly, the serious game developed by Deep Blue! Challenge your friends (or rivals!) and learn more about the aviation sector in the most fun and competitive way possible. Learn more about the game, here.