SESAR Joint Undertaking | Trajectory-based operations in action across Europe - Airspace World SESAR Walking Tour reports

Trajectory-based operations in action across Europe - Airspace World SESAR Walking Tour reports

Trajectory-based operations (TBO) is a cornerstone of the future European ATM system, enabling aircraft trajectories to be shared, updated and managed collaboratively at every phase of a flight. The roadmap for delivering TBO is set out in the European ATM Master Plan, which provides a timeline and maps the solutions underpinning TBO. Many of these solutions were showcased during two dedicated walking tours at Airspace World 2026. Co-organised by the SESAR Joint Undertaking and the SESAR Deployment Manager, the tours demonstrated how these solutions are progressing from innovation to deployment, supporting the delivery of the Digital European Sky.

From innovation to operations: ATC-TBO in action

Guided by Nil Agacdiken, SESAR JU, the first tour focused on outcomes from the ATC-TBO project, which addressed trajectory management processes involving the flight deck and ATC units at air navigation service providers during the post-departure phase.

Real-time air–ground trajectory synchronisation is a critical component of TBO, enabling a shared and continuously updated trajectory between air and ground while supporting more efficient sector operations. This was demonstrated through the use of controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC) clearances issued in advance, increasing sector capacity and reducing controller workload, as presented by ATC-TBO project manager, Dan Ivanescu from EUROCONTROL. The demonstration showcased validated trajectory-based operations procedures enabled by CPDLC and ADS-C EPP, including cross-sector route changes, automated climb and descend advisories, and system-supported transfers in high-density traffic. The demo also illustrated advanced human–automation teaming through probing tools and an AI-supported conflict resolution advisory system combining deterministic algorithms and machine learning.

Weather resilience: managing trajectories in disrupted conditions

Maintaining trajectory predictability in the presence of adverse weather remains a key operational challenge. In his demo, Jürgen Teutsch, Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), presented a controller toolset for both area (ACC) and approach (TMA) operations at Schiphol Airport, enabling controllers to anticipate conflicts between aircraft and adverse weather areas (AWAs) at an early stage. The solution (#0468) provides warnings, visualises alternative routings around weather systems and supports the rapid communication and implementation of trajectory changes via datalink. Drawing on human-in-the-loop simulations, Teutsch illustrated how controllers can better anticipate disruptions, while also highlighting important human factors and safety considerations.

Also addressing trajectory predictability in poor conditions, at the Danube FAB stand, Todor Atanasov from BULATSA and Francisca Muñoz from Airbus presented the tactical encounter solver assistant (TESLA), a functional prototype integrating Mode-S derived wind data and AWAs to optimise conflict detection and resolution.

Integrated automation: bringing TBO capabilities together

Scaling TBO requires the integration of multiple capabilities into coherent operational systems to allow for high levels of automation. This was evident in the demonstration of a unified prototype developed by Thales addressing both ATC-TBO solutions (0468 and 0469), combining conflict resolution advisory tools, airborne trajectory sharing, enhanced CPDLC clearances and weather information display. Presented by Pascal Rohault, Thales Group, the prototype builds on operational components and has been validated in several area control centre (ACC) environments, including Vienna Area control centre as well as Paris and Marseille Area control centres.

The tour concluded with Iulian Șerban Sănducu from ROMATSA and Francisca Muñoz, Airbus, demonstrating advanced separation management supported by AI, showing how automation can enhance controller decision-making while maintaining trust and situational awareness.

Connecting the network: towards full Network TBO

The second tour, also guided by Nil Agacdiken, SESAR JU, and Franck Montoya, SESAR Deployment Manager, explored progress being made by the Network TBO project on trajectory management processes involving flight operations centres, the Network Manager and local air traffic flow management (ATFM) units at ANSPs during pre- and post-departure phases.

These developments were presented by Gérard Mavoian, Network-TBO Project Manager, EUROCONTROL, who showcased how trajectory information can be progressively enhanced and shared across stakeholders to support Network TBO concepts.

Specifically, they took a closer look at FF-ICE-based trajectory management through a tool showing how ATC constraints can be better integrated into FF-ICE/R1 trajectory information exchanges using artificial intelligence techniques, improving trajectory consistency and operational relevance. Elsewhere, Andreea Strat, ROMATSA, and Ralph Schwarzendahl, Lufthansa, showcased FF-ICE in action through ROMairTCM, an automatic and dynamic traffic forecasting and sectorisation planning tool designed to support local ATFCM and ATS units. The system visualises predicted traffic demand, sector complexity and estimated controller workload, allowing timely and data-driven capacity management actions. By integrating data from various operational sources, the tool provides an updated operational picture to support more accurate capacity and workload assessments, while ensuring coordination with military airspace users and the Network Manager.

Further along the tour, stand, Peter Lubrani, European Satellite Services Provider, ESSP, and Giulio Di Tillio, Airtel ATN, presented pan-European ADS-C trajectory sharing capabilities, demonstrating how continuous connectivity enhances situational awareness across stakeholders. Automatic dependent surveillance–contract (ADS-C) is a data link technology that automatically transmits an aircraft’s position and predicted trajectory based on predefined conditions, and its uptake is growing, with airlines such as easyJet retrofitting its fleet and air navigation service providers equipping ground systems, as illustrated during the tour by David Buckley, easyJet and Viktor Jagasits from Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), who shared airline and controller perspectives on its operational use.

Meanwhile, Daniel Klein, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, highlighted how data analytics is becoming a key enabler for trajectory optimisation, presenting operational results from large-scale demonstrations under the HERON project, where advanced analysis supported more efficient flight paths and significant CO₂ savings across major German airports. Managed by DFS and Lufthansa, the initiative—structured into five clusters—optimised arrival flows at airports including Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Nürnberg, Stuttgart and Hamburg, with over 400 demonstration flights confirming fuel savings and leading to the permanent implementation of improved procedures, delivering annual CO₂ reductions of over 10,000 tonnes.

Finally, the tour featured demonstrations of how system-wide information exchange (SWIM) is progressively complementing and transforming traditional OLDI messaging, enabling a more trajectory-centric approach to cross-border coordination towards a single network trajectory in Europe. OLDI (on-line data interchange) has long been used as the standard point-to-point messaging system between air traffic control centres for exchanging basic coordination data such as estimates and transfer of control, but is increasingly being enhanced through SWIM-based services that support richer, real-time trajectory information exchange across the network. The Danube FAB stand showcased Network TBO developments, with Todor Atanasov, BULATSA, Antonio Strano, Leonardo, and Claudiu Cruceanu, ROMATSA, illustrating cross-border trajectory synchronisation using SWIM-enabled OLDI exchanges, supported by recorded validation exercises and system visualisations, demonstrating real-time trajectory updates between ANSPs and the Network Manager and the propagation of 4D trajectories across the network.