Shaping the future of ATC through collaboration

This year I have the honour of chairing the EUROCONTROL ATC Automation Working Group (AAWG) on behalf of NATS. The group brings together air navigation service providers (ANSPs) from across Europe to collaborate on the future of air traffic control support tools.  

The AAWG focuses on how new tools, algorithms and ways of working can be safely developed and introduced into operations, an increasingly important priority as aviation evolves and demands on the ATM network continue to grow.  

Each year the chairing partner hosts an annual in-person meeting, providing an opportunity to showcase relevant capabilities, share expertise and strengthen collaboration across the group. This year, the NATS Future Concepts and Research & Development (R&D) teams hosted delegates for a two-day event at our Swanwick Control Centre and R&D lab.  

Bringing colleagues together at Swanwick

Over the two days, delegates experienced how we, at NATS, link operational expertise with advanced research and development. On the first day we took delegates to Swanwick, where they spent time in the operations room and heard from operational colleagues about the tools supporting today’s service and the continued evolution of systems such as iTEC. Just as importantly, it gave delegates the chance to connect directly with the people using these systems every day, bringing real operational insight into discussions about how automation can continue to evolve safely and effectively. 

On the second day, held at our Research & Development lab, the focus turned to innovation. Through demonstrations and interactive sessions, we explored how ideas progress from early-stage concepts through to advanced programmes, including Project Bluebird.  

From concept to capability

A central theme was the role of prototyping in supporting the safe evolution of automation tools to support ATC. By testing concepts at different levels of fidelity, from rapid early exploration to realistic high-fidelity simulation, ANSPs can better understand performance, involve operational users and build confidence before deployment. 

Demonstrations took place in our Research & Development lab

We also hosted a session on how ANSPs can make best use of shared prototyping tools developed by the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub, including a demonstration of the IDEAS platform in our R&D environment using UK airspace. 

The working group provides a valuable forum for sharing experience and aligning approaches across the European ATM network. While operational environments vary, many of the challenges associated with technology, such as human-machine interaction and system integration, are shared. Collaboration is therefore essential to ensuring that innovation is not only ambitious, but also safe, interoperable and effective at a system-wide level. 

Innovation in air traffic management is inherently collaborative. In-person events like this bring together expertise, research capability and the chance to explore new technologies in a safe and structured environment, helping to ensure they deliver real value when it matters most. 

As technology continues to evolve, combining collaboration with robust testing and validation will be critical. For NATS, hosting the group was also a valuable opportunity to test our thinking with European partners and ensure our own research continues to be shaped by operational experience and wider network needs. By bringing together Europe’s ANSPs and demonstrating how ideas can move from concept to operational capability, the ATC Automation Working Group highlights the importance of working collectively to shape the future of air traffic management.