Category: Innovation

  • INGENAV to be a partner in the forthcoming EVO-Flight SesarJU Industrial Research Project.

    INGENAV is honoured to be part of the EVO-Flight consortium and will offer ATS expertise as well as to lead the Cost Benefit Analysis.  The kick off of this project is expected in October 2026.

  • INGENAV to partner in the Network-TBO SesarJU Industrial Research Project.

    INGENAV is honoured to be a partner in the Network- TBO consortium and will participate in the Strategic Network Revision solution by developing a traffic predictor visualiser. The kick off for this project is expected in September 2026.

  • INGENAV will be a partner in the forthcoming ATC-TBO SesarJU Industrial Research Project.

    INGENAV is honoured to be part of the ATC-TBO consortium and will participate in the High level of ATC Automation solution within this Eurocontrol coordinated project. The kick off of for this project is expected in September 2026.

  • Artificial Intelligence in Air Navigation: Transforming the Future of Traffic Control and Beyond

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping our interaction with technology. In the realm of air navigation, AI applications are driving remarkable advancements, bolstering operational efficiency, and elevating safety standards. At its core, AI empowers machines to learn from data, aiding humans in their tasks and performing functions that traditionally required human intervention. In aviation, this translates into the development of smarter, more efficient solutions that enhance decision-making and streamline operations management.

    Numerous ongoing projects hold the promise of significant improvements in safety, efficiency, capacity, and sustainability. Some notable initiatives include:

    • AI-Based Weather Prediction:
    • AI-Enabled Tactical FMP Hotspot Prediction and Resolutions
    • Automatic Speech Recognition:
    • Conflict Resolution Advisory:
    • Hotspot Identification and Resolution (Short-Term)

    Since 2019, Ingenav has been actively involved in various projects, including:

    • CORA (Conflict Resolution Advisory): Proposes solutions to detected conflicts that uses big data, machine learning and a scoring module to privilege solutions based on pre-set business objectives.
    • FEED: Highlights early identification of future hotspots and proposes efficient resolutions aligned with business objectives.
    • R4 (Ready for): Provides safe and efficient support in nominal conditions (climbs / descents/ transfers) and augments trajectory prediction algorithms and downlinked intelligence
    • ADA (Anomaly Detector): Supports ATCOs in the detection of anomalies related to flows and individual trajectories. Augments other anomaly detection functionalities (e.g. route or level adherence monitoring) and reduces cognitive workload by providing early warnings for anomalies than humans can provide. The 4 projects above are grouped under the name CHarlie – View the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J6INUxBgPQ
    • AI-enabled tactical FMP hotspot prediction and resolution (ASTRA): ASTRA aims to bridge the gap between the FMP and the en-route ATCO planner position by developing an AI-based tool which can predict and resolve ATC hotspots earlier than today. The tool will yield benefits in the areas of capacity at ATC unit level, efficiency, safety improvements, “green” business trajectories and more predictable operations. (https://www.sesarju.eu/projects/ASTRA)

    We are committed to be part of advancements that redefine the future of air navigation and to influence it as much as possible in the direction of human machine teaming and human centricity.

    In the dynamic landscape of AI implementation in aviation, where clear regulatory frameworks are still evolving, it becomes paramount to exercise due diligence. At Ingenav, we understand the importance of compliance and the need for meticulous validation processes, including the pursuit of Explainable AI (XAI). We also emphasize the importance of being proactive in adhering to industry standards.

    Our belief at Ingenav is that AI is not here to replace humans but to complement us in a human-machine teaming approach. Together, we can navigate the future of air navigation, combining the best of human expertise with the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence.

    Ingenav expertise extends from creating operational concepts to conducting operational validations, which ensures that AI solutions meet operational expectations. This makes Ingenav uniquely positioned to provide guidelines through this intricate journey.

    References:

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping our interaction with technology. In the realm of air navigation, AI applications are driving remarkable advancements, bolstering operational efficiency, and elevating safety standards. At its core, AI empowers machines to learn from data, aiding humans in their tasks and performing functions that traditionally required human…

  • What will change? skills for future Air Traffic Controllers

    A few weeks ago I was asked to present at one of the closing events of a project aiming at defining “… future knowledge, skills and competences required by key professionals of the aeronautical sector. By identifying the needs of an evolving labour market, skill-UP develops initial and continuing VET training programmes based on suitable and innovative teaching and training methodologies and on study pathways for skilling, upskilling and reskilling the air transport workforce.” The project is called skill-UP and you can find more here: https://www.skillup-air.eu/

    I was asked to consider the future Air Traffic Controller skill set. I took current competence areas and skills and the way we feel the future is going in terms of service expectation, technology and societal trends as a starting point to try to look into the crystal ball and see how this future skill set for air traffic controllers could look like.

    I came up with 5 areas which admittedly are not all necessarily skills but are a mix of skill, knowledge and attitudes (known as KSAs) that I believe would be necessary for the future.

    The 5 KSAs for me are:

    • Digital competence (K)
    • Cognitive Flexibility (S)
    • Maintenance of current ATCO skills that lead to cognitive processes: Spatial Intelligence, Situational Awareness and Decision Making with possibly alternative exposure to practice. (S)
    • Continuous Development (A)
    • Discipline (A)

    With digital competence I mean that a future air traffic controller will need to appreciate how artificial intelligence (not in the strict sense of AI but in a generic sense of a non-human support/co responsibility in decision making and other processes) works, its strengths and weaknesses not dissimilar to how we inherently learn on how to work with other people and to get a feel of their strengths and limitations.

    With cognitive flexibility I mean that skill to be able to switch from one thing to another and also to go from 0 to 100 in a split second. This skill is already important now but if future air traffic controllers will be put in montoring situations, then we will need to fill in the gaps more rapidly than we perhaps do today.

    Future air traffic controllers will still need to take decisions on aircraft flying in 3 dimensions, in order to provide a safe and efficient service. This needs a number of skills to be developed and maintained. Currently controllers mainly maintain these skills by practicing. If practicing becomes less available, because of the delegation of certain elements of work to an automated system, then we will need to find an alternative way on how to maintain these skills – (apart from the fact that as a system we need to acknowledge skill degradation and have mitigations for these that do not expect super being skills from human air traffic controllers – but that is the subject of an other article)

    I included continuous development because I think that the job of a controller will be changing rapidly in the future. If future controllers do not endorse the attitude that they need to keep learning and to move with things, then we will have a mismatch in pace.

    Finally, I also included discipline as an attitude. One may say that discipline is important to date and I would perfectly agree. However whereas in the present there are still windows which allow one to work in their own bubble and do “what they like and how they like” within a set of prescribed rules and regulations, the trend is towards sharing of information and collaborative decision making, between humans and between humans and machines. The discipline comes in where it will become more important to do the right thing, but in the way it fits with the rest of a shared system rather than in isolation. Working well with others, vs working alone requires discipline. Tomorrow´s air traffic control work will probably require even more of that.

    These are my thoughts about the future skill sets of air traffic controllers. 

    I end by sharing the presentation I gave (click on the picture to go to the pdf).

    What do you think? Send me a private message or start a healthy debate. I’ll be happy to answer and to contribute!