It is that time of year again! Here are my predictions for what 2025 has in store for the air traffic management (ATM) world. As always, not all of them will turn out to be correct, but let me have a try...
First of all, I hope for a safe 2025. The end of December was not good for aviation. Hopefully, 2025 will be among the safest years ever. This will require continuous effort, proper safety management, and constant care by everyone involved. I would also like to see more modern training that is well adapted to trainees' needs and expectations.
From a technical point of view, I hope to see more digital transformation and progress towards cloud technologies. Will we begin using public clouds, like Amazon, Google or Microsoft Azure? I would like to see this, but I don't think it will happen under the current regulations. Innovation will likely come in the form of more AI-supported tools for ATCOs. Maybe it will even get closer to tactical, operational use.
An easy prediction to make is about industry events: Airspace World in Lisbon in May and Airspace Asia Pacific in December. I will personally be attending both. Will you? Should we meet there?
Finally, I hope we'll see more drone flights, with U-Spaces emerging in Italy and Switzerland — and likely soon across the rest of Europe. But with the financial challenges Lilium and Volocopter are facing, I would not bet on seeing air taxis in operation in 2025.
What are your predictions for 2025?
Vincent
ANSP news
- ENAIRE puts a new radar into service to enhance air traffic surveillance in Gran Canaria- ENAIRE commissioned a state-of-the-art primary radar at Gran Canaria Airport on 27 November that will enhance coverage and surveillance during approaches, take-offs, and landings at the airport. The new 3D primary radar at Gran Canaria is capable of detecting traffic within a 100 nautical mile radius. This type of radar strengthens the air traffic detection capabilities of the current secondary radar (Mode S) at Gran Canaria Airport, providing the necessary and obligatory reliability for surveillance in the event of potential failures or interruptions in the transponders aboard aircraft.
- Change of Chief and a new training plan - New wind is blowing in Air Navigation Services FPC- Air Navigation Services FPC is experiencing a shift with the appointment of a new chief and the introduction of a fresh training plan. This change is expected to bring a new direction and opportunities for growth within the organization. The new leadership and training strategy symbolize a positive transformation in the operations of Air Navigation Services FPC, aiming to enhance efficiency and excellence in service delivery.
- Luxembourg’s Air Navigation Administration Simulates Innovative Working Methods with Fintraffic- Luxembourg’s Air Navigation Administration partnered with Fintraffic to simulate and test innovative air traffic control methods. Supported by EUROCONTROL and NLR, over 50 simulation sessions explored new concepts to enhance safety and efficiency. Fintraffic's cutting-edge simulators and operational expertise ensured seamless execution, while input from airline representatives and Luxembourg NSA enriched the process. The data collected will guide decisions on deploying these methods in Luxembourg. This collaboration highlights the power of innovation and international teamwork in shaping the future of aviation.
- ENAIRE drives the digitisation of air traffic control with the deployment of new air traffic control positions in the Canary Islands and Valencia- ENAIRE, the national air navigation service provider, is driving the digitisation of air traffic control with the deployment of the new control position, called iFOCUCS. This new air traffic control position, which will eventually be used in all ENAIRE control centres, is already in use in the Canary Islands with seven new consoles, and five in Valencia.
- NAV Portugal delivers new wind detection system to Madeira Airport- NAV Portugal handed over Madeira International Airport's new wind detection system, a significant milestone for the safety and efficiency of airport operations in the region and one that reinforces NAV's commitment to modernizing air navigation infrastructures across the country. With a range of more than 10 km, the system will collect meteorological data with high precision and in near real time, reinforcing operational safety.
- NAV Portugal advances with Airspace restructuring of Lisbon Terminal Area - NAV Portugal launches the Point Merge System (PMS) next dawn, a new sequencing model for arrivals at Lisbon Terminal Area, bringing greater flexibility and predictability in traffic management throughout the region. Besides the sequencing system, the changes implemented next dawn also entail a comprehensive redesign of aircraft entry and exit routes from Lisbon's airspace. This signifies the most extensive restructuring ever of Lisbon's airspace.
- Major step towards new air traffic control system - LVNL- In the night of 16-17 December LVNL directed aircraft to and from Schiphol Airport from the new radar room in the Polaris building at Schiphol-East for the very first time. With this "Night live operation", LVNL has taken an important step towards commissioning its new air traffic control system. Over the next few years, LVNL will continue to develop, test and expand the system before implementing it.
Market news
- SITTI Systems to establish new systems in Morocco- SITTI Systems has announced plans to establish new communication systems in Morocco, marking the company's expansion into the North African market. The move aims to enhance air traffic management in the region while showcasing SITTI's cutting-edge technologies. By setting up operations in Morocco, SITTI Systems seeks to strengthen its presence in the global aviation industry and provide innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of modern air traffic control.
- Relocation of military sectors by SITTI- SITTI has been asked to develop a transition plan that will allow the move of the responsibility of airspace sector BRN (North Brindisi Area) from Brindisi to Rome Ciampino, without compromising the current capacity of both sites. The plan envisages the extension of the voice handling facilities of the MULTIFONO® M800IP® VCS in Ciampino to cope with the radio and telephone connections originally attested in Brindisi. New Controller Working Positions are also added to the Ciampino site for the proper management of the sectors over Southern Italy. The transition of the remaining sector South Brindisi Area is planned for the beginning of 2026.
- FREQUENTIS supplies Digital Tower solution in Greenland- Frequentis has been awarded a contract by COMSA Corporación, the largest unlisted Spanish group in the infrastructure and engineering sector, to provide a Local Digital Tower solution for the new Qaqortoq Airport in Greenland. This project marks an important step in the modernisation of Greenland’s aviation infrastructure, enabling air traffic control operations with advanced digital solutions that reduce the need for traditional tower infrastructure.
- GE Aerospace to integrate Aireon ADS-B data into Airspace Insight- GE Aerospace today announced that it will integrate Aireon’s space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data into Airspace Insight, a data-driven airspace analytics platform that empowers airlines to optimize flight paths and maintenance services, identify inefficiencies, and maximize airspace benefits. This integration will further strengthen Airspace Insight’s capabilities, driving smarter, data-informed operations.
- Indra to upgrade Air Traffic Management systems in Argentina- The company will standardize the country's five control centers with its ManagAir automation solution, one of the most advanced in the market, to overhaul their systems and streamline control of Argentine airspace. Empresa Argentina de Navegación Aérea (EANA) has chosen Indra's technology for its capability to define more precise routes, reduce flight times and enable interoperability with airports in other countries.
- Avinor and Frequentis Signs Contract for Future Tower System - The current tower system at Oslo Airport was introduced in the late 1990s and has been continuously developed and upgraded to meet new needs and requirements. "Now there is a need to replace the existing system due to limited remaining lifespan, lack of supplier support, and new European regulatory requirements," says Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor. The project to introduce a new and modern tower system at Oslo Airport has now completed the tender process, and the contract was awarded to Frequentis AG.
Context information
- Iceland becomes 42ⁿᵈ Member State of EUROCONTROL - Iceland officially became EUROCONTROL’s 42nd Member State on 1 January 2025, exactly a decade since the last Member State accession. In terms of air navigation, Iceland is already well integrated into Europe through membership in the European Economic Area, the Schengen Area and EFTA, the European Free Trade Association, and has been for over 25 years closely cooperating on the aviation front with EUROCONTROL.
Research and innovation
- Aireon's Milestone in Space-Based VHF for Aviation Market- Aireon reached a significant milestone in the aviation industry by advancing the implementation of space-based VHF technology. This achievement demonstrates Aireon's commitment to enhancing airspace surveillance and air traffic management through innovative solutions, paving the way for improved communication and navigation capabilities in the aviation marketplace.
- How Analytics Improve Air Traffic Flow and Efficiency - AVISU- This article discusses the impact of analytics on air traffic flow and efficiency. It highlights the role of data analysis in improving the overall performance of air traffic management systems.
Reports and data
- 9% increase in passenger traffic at Egyptian airports in 2024- The total number of passengers at Egyptian airports in 2024 reached 22.097 million, up from 20.276 million in 2023. Additionally, the number of flights also rose by 3%, reaching 167,684 in 2024, compared to 162,773 the year before. Cairo International Airport recorded 28.775 million passengers with a total of 211,664 flights in 2024, compared to 26.463 million passengers and 198,943 flights in 2023.
UAV and UTM
- Swiss Government Agrees to Adopt U-space Airspace in Zurich- The Swiss government has made an agreement to adopt U-space airspace in Zurich, allowing for enhanced management of drone operations and air traffic. This move represents a significant step towards integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace safely and efficiently. The adoption of U-space technology in Zurich demonstrates Switzerland's commitment to embracing innovative solutions for the future of aviation.
- Nokia, Motorola develop AI-based first-responder BVLOS drone management system - Unmanned airspace- Nokia and Motorola Solutions have announced a joint drone technology integration for public safety and mission-critical industries. The solution is an AI-enhanced, automated drone-in-a-box leveraging Nokia Drone Networks and Motorola Solutions’ CAPE drone software and ground control station.
