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Tag: Aviation

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.

Call for experts: contribute to the future of ATM and CNS Innovation

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The SESAR Joint Undertaking is seeking new experts to support the evaluation of exploratory research and industrial research and validation activities. Two Expressions of Interest are now open for professionals eager to contribute to Europe’s future air traffic management (ATM) and communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) solutions.

📎 Details and application procedure: SESAR JU Call for Experts – ATMCNS Solutions

Experts are invited to apply under the following categories:

  • ER2: evaluation of Exploratory Research projects, which aim to investigate new ideas and concepts at the pre-industrial level;
  • IR3: evaluation of Industrial Research and Validation activities, supporting the transition of promising solutions towards implementation.

Engage 2 encourages its community of researchers, practitioners and innovators to consider this opportunity and help bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and operational excellence.

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!

Engage 2 at SESAR Annual conference 2025. Connecting minds, building the future of aviation

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 took part in the SESAR Annual Conference 2025, one of the most significant events shaping the future of European ATM. The project was represented by its coordinator, Micol Biscotto from Deep Blue, at the dedicated Digital Sky Marketplace Exhibition stand, where she presented the upcoming activities for 2025 and beyond.

The mission of Engage 2 is clear: to be the bridge between academia and industry and empowering the next generation of aviation professionals. This goal aligns perfectly with the vision of SESAR, which focuses on modernizing ATM through research, innovation, and collaboration across the aviation sector.

During the conference, Engage 2 showcased its key initiatives for 2025, including the first Hackathon (which will take place in Madrid in March 2025), the first Thematic workshop (focusing on Thematic Challenge #4 “Integration of new entrants“, will take place at Airspace World 2025), the opening of a new Catalyst funds call in Spring and the next edition of Summer School (Braunschweig, September 2025).

Engage 2’s participation in the SESAR Annual Conference 2025 was a great opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between academia and industry, contributing to a more efficient, sustainable, and future-ready air traffic management system.

SESAR AI Flasghip workshop in Rome to advace ATM collaboration

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The SESAR Joint Undertaking, supported by Engage 2, announces the upcoming AI Flagship workshop, set for 11 November 2024 at Spazio Europa in Rome, Italy. This workshop aims to bring together key stakeholders, researchers, and industry experts to collaborate on advancing Artificial Intelligence in Air Traffic Management.

Building on the discussions from the AI Initial Coordination Workshop held in September, this session will focus on deepening our collective understanding of AI and advancing the regulatory debate in collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Key objectives of the workshop include:

  • Promoting interaction among SESAR projects working in AI
  • Encouraging dialogue with EASA on AI implementation and regulation
  • Shaping the future of AI in ATM through collective contributions

This event presents a valuable opportunity for participants to engage with fellow experts and stakeholders, sharing insights and contributing to the future of AI in the aviation sector.

Engage 2 presents the matchmaking app concept at EASN 2024

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

At the 14th EASN International Conference held in Thessaloniki, Greece, Engage 2 showcased the early stages of its innovative matchmaking app designed to bridge the gap between students, academia and the ATM industry. Tommaso Vendruscolo, Senior UX/UI Designer & Human Factors Consultant at Deep Blue, presented the concept, methodology and development steps of the tool, which is set to become a student-centric application for navigating the aviation industry.

The app, developed by Engage 2, aims to foster connections between students, universities, and companies, enabling users to create profiles, discover mutual opportunities, and participate in events such as hackathons and open days. It also offers a variety of job cards and videos to help students explore career paths in the ATM sector, supporting them in making informed decisions about their futures.

This matchmaking app represents Engage 2’s commitment to empowering the next generation of aviation professionals by creating a digital platform that responds to the evolving needs of the aviation industry.

Registration is open for the Winter School in Belgrade

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Registration for the Engage 2 Winter School in Belgrade is now open! Attendance at this intensive four-day program, scheduled from January 27 to 31 2025, is free of charge. However, due to limited space, applications are encouraged to be submitted as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is November 20th, 2024. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance/rejection by the end of November.

Hosted by the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering in Belgrade, the program will be led by a renowned faculty of experts, including industry leaders from EUROCONTROL and prominent academics from the University of Westminster and, of course, the University of Belgrade.

Register NOW

This intensive four-day program is designed for postgraduate students, experienced researchers and industry professionals in the ATM sector. The Engage 2 WinterSchool offers a unique opportunity to:

  1. Gain in-depth knowledge of key ATM concepts and challenges
  2. Explore advanced research methodologies through interactive tutorials
  3. Learn from prominent industry leaders and researchers
  4. Network with peers and build valuable connections within the ATM community

Engage KTN past editions
Do you want to know what it means to attend an Engage 2 Winter and Summer School? Let’s take a look at the past editions of the Engage KTN Summer School: you can find all the information about the three past editions of the Summer School, including topics, speakers, and much more to pique your interest.

Save the date for the first Hackathon in Madrid, 24-25 March 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Mark your calendars for an event you won’t want to miss! Engage 2 announces its inaugural hackathon, set to take place on the 24th and 25th of March 2025 in Madrid.

This event will bring together new talents to the aviation industry for two days of intense collaboration and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to tackle the industry’s digitalization challenge, featuring a 24-hour coding session to tackle proposed ATM-related challenges.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a budding entrepreneur, or simply passionate about technology, the Engage 2 Hackathon promises to be an unforgettable experience. Stay tuned for more details and registration information coming soon.

We look forward to seeing you in Madrid!

Engage 2 at the European Researchers’ Night 2024

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

We are happy to announce that the Engage 2 project will participate in the upcoming edition of the European Researchers’ Night, taking place in the beautiful setting of Piazza Unità, Trieste. This event, a major celebration of science and research, will be held on the 27th of September 2024.

Organised by our partner, the University of Trieste with the contribution of the Coordinator Deep Blue, this engaging activity, titled “Uno sguardo al cielo: ma quanto è complesso il trasporto aereo europeo?” (A look at the sky: How complex is European air transport?), will bring the world of air traffic management closer to the public.

Through a fun and interactive map-based game, participants will understand the immense scale and complexity of European air transport, as well as the numerous challenges it faces, from environmental impact to connectivity, especially given the daily surge of aircraft across European skies.

This activity will demonstrate how research is essential in designing a more sustainable air traffic system, both environmentally and economically. The activity will be conducted in Italian, making it accessible to the local community and ensuring a broader engagement.

Join us in Trieste to explore the future of air transport and discover how research can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient aviation system!

Fore more info (in italian): https://www.sharper-night.it/sharper-trieste/

Engage 2 Summer School rescheduled to January 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

We regret to inform you that the first edition of the Engage 2 Summer School, initially scheduled for September 9th-13th, 2024, has been postponed. The Summer School will now be a Winter School, held from January 27th to 31st, 2025, at the University of Belgrade.

The reasons for this change are primarily organisational, related to the project-funded PhDs that will commence in the autumn of 2024.

Registrations for the event remain open; further details will be provided in the future.

This event is an excellent opportunity for students and professionals in the Air Traffic Management sector to deepen their knowledge and engage with industry experts.

We look forward to welcoming you in January!