The SINAPSE project aims at proposing an intelligent and secured aeronautical datalink communications network architecture design based on the Software Defined Networking (SDN) architecture model augmented with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent safety services outages, to optimize available network resources and to implement cybersecurity functions protecting the network against digital attacks

BEST will determine how semantic technologies can be used effectively to maximise the benefits of adopting SWIM, one of the major results of SESAR. SWIM offers an “information sharing” approach to ATM information management and its adoption offers advantages for better situational awareness and information management. But the full benefits of SWIM can only be achieved if advanced support can be provided for developing smart SWIM-based applications that manage information effectively, and semantic technologies offer a promising way to do that. BEST identifies a set of focused research questions about how to exploit semantic technologies in a practical way in an ATM setting, and will produce concrete results that help address these. The project will experiment with use of semantic technologies with several use cases, and build on that experience to produce guidelines (aimed at practitioners) about how to use ontologies in flexible ways to describe meta-data, and how these can be used in innovative yet scalable ways. BEST envisages use of multiple modular ontologies to maximise flexibility and applicability to specific application scenarios, but within a framework where compliance with the wider requirements of SWIM and the SESAR AIRM can be assured. This involves both technical compliance testing and governance aspects. While BEST is primarily a research-oriented project, it is also designed to ensure relevance to and suitability for ATM operations, through project activities and the involvement of a Reference Group of key stakeholders. The consortium includes a mixture of research and industrial partners (including one SME), all with extensive ATM experience. Several project partners have had leading roles in AIRM and SWIM work in SESAR, but some partners are new to SESAR and offer “new blood”. The consortium also provides leading expertise on semantic technologies. The project duration will be 24 months, with a requested funding of just under 600 K€.

The aviation industry is confronted with rising passenger numbers and increased flight volume in the face of limited resources at airports and in the air. At the same time, airlines struggle with increased cost pressure from an increasing number of market participants while the highest safety standards demand compliance with complex processes. One promising area of optimization is the allocation of Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) slots. ATFM slots are issued by the EUROCONTROL Network Manager in times of increased flight traffic, regulating time of departure, exact execution of the flight route, and time of landing. Until now, ATFM slots have only been subject to intra-airline swaps, used by airlines to prioritize expensive flights and thus minimize overall costs. Reasons for different costs of individual flights are, for example, the provisioning of connecting flights for passengers or work time restrictions for crew members. Airlines want to keep the cost structure of their flights confidential, as they fear a competitive disadvantage when disclosed. This desire for confidentiality has hampered slot swapping between different airlines. SlotMachine will employ blockchain technology and secure multi-party computation to extend the existing UDPP solution with the possibility to keep private the participating airlines’ confidential information such as the cost structure of flights. Technology will allow for secure, auditable transactions without the need for a central broker where stakeholders will be able to enter slot swapping transactions without disclosing information to other participants. By demonstrating the feasibility of a privacy-preserving platform for swapping ATFM slots, the foundation can be laid for the development of a product that will be an essential element in the aviation industry in the future. It contributes to better use of existing resources at airports, higher efficiency of airlines, lower emissions, and shorter delays for passengers.

The present SAPIENT (Satellite and terrestrial architectures improving performance, security and safety in ATM) proposal addresses a new innovative application in the field of CNS/ATM system (H2020 SESAR ER Call 2015 Work Area 2, ER-08-2015) focusing exploitation of the synergies of Communications and Navigation technologies and the 4D trajectory management concept. In this frame, the SAPIENT project aims at supporting the Technology Communication and Navigation roadmaps and the stakeholders roadmaps for the Air-Ground datalinks (European ATM Masterplan issue 2012), in the timeframe soon following the Step 3 (availability of High integrity Air-Ground datalink comms service, Multi constellation GNSS, 4D trajectory based operation). SAPIENT project is strictly linked to the current phase of SESAR, taking into account the analysis and the definition activities carried out in the WP15 CNS and, in particular, the results of P15.2.4 and P15.2.6. In addition, taking into account the SESAR work on Remote Piloted Aircraft System (see P15.2.4 task 105 and Medale project), the SAPIENT system aims at improving the performance of the RPAS Command, Control and Communication satellite datalink, that is recognized as one of the major technical gaps for the RPAS integration in the civilian airspace.

Engage is a KTN proposed for European air traffic management, building on the solid foundation of previous actions, and introducing novel features and actions. Previous attempts to involve industry in the earlier maturity phases of ATM research have only partly been successful. We recognise that additional actions and incentives are necessary. With a balanced consortium, permeating all features of our proposal is the pronounced and active engagement of industry partners. At the core of the network are thematic challenges, supported by dedicated workshops. Catalyst funding will support focused projects, thus stimulating the transfer of exploratory research results towards ATM application-oriented research. This approach is enabled by the budget released through our lean management and compact consortium team. The network will establish a knowledge hub, in which members across the research community are continuously involved. This will include an observatory and undertake the role of devising and maintaining the long-term roadmap development of innovative and interdisciplinary ATM concepts beyond SESAR 2020. The knowledge hub will be the one-stop, go-to source for information in Europe. Our vision of the network is that of an enduring partnership between academic, operational and industrial partners exchanging needs, ideas and information to ensure the relevance and applicability of research and uptake of new concepts and methods.