Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
The global aerospace industry is being modernized and improved. Stuck with technologies developed decades ago, the continuous increase in air travel is bringing the current system to its limits in terms of capacity and robustness. New concepts such as free flight, trajectory-based operations, and advanced air mobility aim at breaking down the current barriers by means of digitalization and augmentation of capabilities for airspace users and Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Digitalization of airspace operations
A global trend is underway to replace analog systems with modern, digital information exchange systems supporting automation and improved decision-support. Public-private collaboration programs NextGen (U.S.) and SESAR (Europe) are spearheading modernization of air traffic control systems to make air travel safer, more efficient, and more economical. Learn more about our contributions to the U.S. National Airspace Modernization program.
Digital, IP-based communication networks and applications are replacing legacy Air Traffic Management systems
Flight and Flow In a Collaborative Environment (FF-ICE) concept, described by the International Civil Organization (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP) and Global Air Traffic Management Operational Concept (Doc 9854) allows new information technologies and procedures to be incorporated in a planned manner.
Datalink communications are an integral pillar in the transition to a globally interoperable “aeronautical Internet” and support of aviation IP applications for Air Traffic Control, Trajectory Based Operations, airline operations, and information management leveraging Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) implementations. Modern voice communications, including digital voice, are another essential element in providing efficient management of communication channels and user operation. Learn more about our AI solutions for datalink analysis.
This ambitious transition is full of challenges that require the introduction of processes for equipment, network and application design, and certification that are unknown in the aerospace industry. Buy-in is critical from national ANSPs, Communication Service Providers, Aircraft Operators, Regulatory Authorities, and State Authorities, along with industry organizations, including aircraft OEM avionics suppliers. Skymantics partners with main airspace players FAA and Eurocontrol to support the conceptualization, design, test, and validation of new components and systems facilitating their safe introduction in operational environments:
System Wide Information Management (SWIM) architecture and flight data exchange models.
Pioneering the Flight Object concept in line FF-ICE flight planning services such as preliminary flight planning, flight plan filing, and flight information requests.
Standardization of air/ground communication technologies, ICAO concepts, and geospatial data models.
Support the deployment and improvement of air/ground datalink communication systems in the aviation community
Test support and quality control of NAS Voice Switch system to achieve Operating Capability in the planned timeframe.
Facilitating new entrants in the airspace
The FAA, NASA, other federal partner agencies, and industry are collaboratively exploring concepts of operation, data exchange requirements, and a supporting framework to enable Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) users in the airspace. This introduces a new layer of complexity in the aviation ecosystem, until now clearly separated in airspace levels and regions with fixed flight rules.
Legacy Air Traffic Management is now accommodating new entrants with higher levels of automation
Skymantics is supporting the research and development of UTM by providing guidance in data exchange modeling, information architecture alternatives, and gap analysis to support future UAS Service Supplier (USS) prototypes.
The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) concept has been explored by FAA and NASA in the last year with the goal of opening up the airspace to electric Vertical Take Off Lift (eVTOL) vehicles which facilitate efficient short and medium-haul flights for passenger and cargo transportation. This new paradigm leverages ATM concepts such as Trajectory Based Operations (TBO), plus emerging airspace automation concepts based on UAS Traffic Management (UTM) principles.
Skymantics has been supporting this concept in the investigation of infrastructure requirements for communication, navigation and surveillance capabilities, and USS information exchange capabilities for common situational awareness of all the new airspace entrants in future high-density operations.
Do you have an innovative idea and you would like to partner with us? Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities.