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Tag: SIDs

Highlights from SESAR Innovation Days 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The Engage 2 consortium made a significant impact at the 2025 SESAR Innovation Days (SIDs), held from 1-4 December in Lake Bled, Slovenia. As the flagship event for Europe’s ATM research community, this year’s conference highlighted collaboration as the “secret sauce” behind ATM transformation, a theme that resonates deeply with Engage 2’s mission to bridge the gap between academia and the aviation industry.

Championing young talents

Since 2023, Engage 2 has been dedicated to cultivating young talent in the ATM domain and this commitment was on full display in Bled. The project supported the attendance of three of its seven funded PhD candidates, along with an MSc student who has successfully navigated the sector with the guidance of Engage 2 mentors.

Their presence demonstrated to the wider SESAR community the consortium’s proactive approach to creating opportunities for early-career researchers. By facilitating these connections, Engage 2 continues to foster links between the next generation of innovators and the established aviation industry.

Leadership in technical sessions and expanding the knowledge hub

Beyond supporting students, Engage 2 partners played a central role in the event’s technical programme. Many partners served as moderators for various technical sessions throughout the convention, underscoring the high profile and expertise of the network’s researchers within the European ATM landscape.

During the plenary session, the Engage 2 Coordinator took the stage to highlight the project’s tangible achievements. Key milestones presented included the seven funded PhDs and the series of successful joint events organised across different projects, as well as the continuous popularity of the Wiki, the platform that will host the technical papers from this year’s SIDs edition, alongside archives from previous years. This initiative reinforces the Wiki’s status as a central repository for ATM knowledge, ensuring that the research shared at Lake Bled remains accessible to the community.

Advancing AI in ATM: joint dissemination event

Following the main conference, Slovenian week ended on December 5th with a joint final dissemination event titled “AI-based innovation in ATM: enhancing efficiency, trust and safety.”This event focused on the final results and achievements of four SESAR-supported exploratory research projects (TRUSTY, ASTRA, SynthAIr and CODA-ATC). Bringing together a total of 63 participants (21 onsite and 42 joining online), the session provided a platform to showcase innovations aimed at improving the European ATM network. Attendees engaged directly with project teams to learn about tested AI-based solutions, specifically in enhancing air traffic control efficiency; building operator trust in autonomous and AI-driven systems; ensuring the highest standards of safety in a digitalised airspace.

About SESAR Innovation Days

Hosted by Pipistrel and the University of Ljubljana, the 2025 SESAR Innovation Days brought together 450 leading researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss the future of the Digital European Sky. For more information on the event and its outcomes, visit the SESAR Joint Undertaking news page.

SESAR-supported projects to host a joint final dissemination event on AI-Based ATM Innovation

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

The final results and achievements of the SESAR-supported exploratory research projects TRUSTY, ASTRA, SynthAIr, CODA-ATC, alongside the transversal project Engage 2, will be presented at a joint final dissemination event focused on the application of AI in ATM. Registration is mandatory for both on-site and online attendance, register now.

Agenda

Event information

Date: 5th December 2025

Location: Rikli Balance Hotel, Lake Bled, Slovenia

Time: 9:00 – 14:00 CET

Format: Hybrid (On-site and Online)

The event “AI-based innovation in ATM: enhancing efficiency, trust and safety” will showcase innovations aimed at improving efficiency, trust and safety across the European ATM network. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the project teams and learn about the tested AI-based solutions in areas such as enhancing air traffic control efficiency, building operator trust in autonomous and AI-driven systems and ensuring the highest standards of safety in a digitalised airspace.

This joint event underscores the collaborative effort within the SESAR framework to accelerate the delivery of the Digital European Sky through high-value research and innovation.

The detailed agenda and the online connection details will be distributed to registered participants in the coming weeks.

Engage 2 announces second Catalyst call at SESAR Innovation Days 2025

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

Engage 2 will launch its second call for Catalyst Fund Projects at the upcoming SESAR Innovation Days 2025. The Catalyst Funds are designed to rapidly mature exploratory research, bridging the gap between innovative concepts and industrial application within ATM. Following the success of the first call, which funded seven ambitious projects, this second wave of funding will continue to support focused projects that align with the programme’s key thematic challenges, as well as open, innovative proposals.

More detailed information, including the official call text, application guidelines, and thematic priorities, will be published shortly on the dedicated Engage 2 Wiki where you can also explore descriptions of all past Catalyst Projects.

The call will provide financial support and access to industrial collaboration environments, thereby accelerating the development of promising ideas toward higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). Projects are expected to demonstrate an original contribution to the state of the art, addressing critical challenges such as climate impact mitigation, disruptive ATM system modernisation, and the integration of new entrants.

To ensure you do not miss the call opening and receive the latest updates, follow Engage 2 on LinkedIn and subscribe to our official newsletter.

SESAR AI Flagship workshop. Advancing AI in aviation

Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

On 11 November 2024, the SESAR AI Flagship workshop brought together researchers, industry stakeholders and regulatory representatives at Spazio Europa in Rome. This second session of the flagship series followed the inaugural online workshop held on 20 September and coincided with the SESAR Innovation Days, which kicked off the next day. With 56 participants from 23 SESAR projects, the workshop served as a strong continuation of discussions on aligning AI innovation with aviation certification requirements.A key highlight of the event was the active participation of representatives from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Their involvement deepened the connection between SESAR projects and the institution driving the AI Roadmap 2.0, fostering a shared understanding of the roadmap’s goals and bridging the gap between research outputs and regulatory needs.

Bridging research and regulation: insights from EASA

Central to the workshop was EASA’s detailed presentation on the AI Roadmap 2.0, a strategic framework guiding the development and deployment of AI systems in aviation. Launched in 2019, the roadmap has evolved into its second phase, focusing on Level 3 AI capabilities and the consolidation of an AI/ML framework. EASA’s direct engagement with the workshop bridged the divide between research and regulation, enabling SESAR projects to align their innovations with the priorities and expectations of Europe’s leading aviation safety authority.

Guillaume Soudain, joined by colleagues François Triboulet and Andrew Kliner, elaborated on how the roadmap integrates existing safety and certification standards with the unique demands of AI systems. The session highlighted the importance of defining a robust safety assurance process that accommodates the non-deterministic nature of AI. Unlike traditional deterministic automation, AI systems require novel approaches to data management, security threat modeling, and system monitoring.

The discussion on EASA’s “W-model” for learning assurance exemplified these challenges. Designed to address issues such as bias-variance trade-offs and model generalization, the W-model introduces iterative steps for identifying edge cases and ensuring operational robustness. EASA emphasized the criticality of understanding and managing the influence of AI components within hybrid systems, where deterministic and non-deterministic elements coexist.

The roadmap also underscored the significance of operational explainability, tailored to the specific needs of stakeholders such as air traffic controllers and system operators. This focus on user-centric design resonated with participants, especially as the SESAR projects continue to explore how AI can be effectively integrated into real-world ATM operations.

SESAR projects showcase collaborative innovation

The workshop spotlighted five SESAR projects, each tackling unique challenges in applying AI to air traffic management.

JARVIS – The JARVIS project introduced its human-centric design approach for digital assistants, emphasizing the critical role of trust, workload-adaptive interfaces, and robust interaction mechanisms. The project highlighted the risks of over-reliance on AI and the potential for de-skilling, offering a thought-provoking perspective on human-AI teaming.

CODA and TRUSTY -The CODA and TRUSTY projects shared their advances in digital systems for air traffic controllers, exploring adaptive task distribution and the psychological nuances of trust in AI-powered digital towers. These presentations illuminated the transformative potential of AI in redefining ATM roles, while also addressing the philosophical and practical challenges of integrating AI into high-stakes environments.

AI4HyDrop project – AI4HyDrop project explored how AI can optimize airspace management, particularly with the growing presence of drones. By leveraging computer vision and other robust technologies, the project demonstrated its commitment to achieving technical resilience and operational efficiency.

    HUCAN – The HUCAN project showcased its work on a certification roadmap for advanced ATM systems. With EASA now leading this regulatory effort, HUCAN has shifted focus to clarifying critical definitions and approaches to AI, as evidenced by its paper presented at the SESAR Innovation Days.

      The in-person gathering in Rome provided a dynamic forum for meaningful dialogue, building on the foundational discussions of the September online session. Roundtable discussions fostered rich exchanges on topics ranging from technical robustness and AI explainability to human-AI teaming and certification challenges. Participants collaborated on identifying shared terminology, exploring visualization tools, and addressing liability concerns.

      As the day concluded, Alessandro Prister from SESAR thanked the participants for their active engagement and underscored the importance of such collaborative efforts. The SESAR AI Flagship Workshop exemplified the critical role of community and shared expertise in advancing AI for aviation, setting the stage for future innovations and robust frameworks that will shape the industry’s evolution.

      Save the date | AI Flagship Workshop in Rome

      Written by Serena Fabbrini on .

      Engage 2 announces the AI Flagship Workshop, set to take place in Rome on Monday, 11 November 2024. This event will be held just hours before the commencement of SIDs 2024, making it an important gathering for all SESAR-funded projects under the flagship initiative.

      Before this event, a coordination online workshop will be held on the 20th September 2024.

      The AI Flagship Workshop aims to foster enhanced collaboration among SESAR projects, bringing together key stakeholders, researchers, and industry experts to discuss advancements, share insights, and strategise on future initiatives. This workshop is an opportunity for participants to engage in discussions, explore innovative solutions and strengthen the network within the SESAR community.

      The event will feature a series of presentations and networking sessions designed to maximise interaction and knowledge exchange. Participants will have the chance to showcase their work, learn from each other’s experiences and identify potential areas for cooperation.

      We look forward to welcoming all SESAR projects and stakeholders to this event in Rome, where we will collectively drive forward the goals of the AI Flagship and continue to advance the future of air traffic management.

      Stay tuned for further updates and detailed agendas as we approach the event date!