What is the added value of being a member of the SESAR 3 JU?

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) conducts cutting-edge research ranging from the study of fundamental principles to the development and demonstration of real-world aerospace applications. As Europe's largest aeronautics research organisation, DLR contributes to the entire SESAR innovation pipeline, from exploratory research to industrial research and Digital Sky Demonstrators. Its membership helps to strengthen the link between research and industry and to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application. With its state-of-the-art large-scale research facilities and flexible (rapid prototyping) tools, DLR is well equipped to carry out validations and demonstrations. It can contribute to the adaptation of new technologies from industrial research for local implementation (ANSPs, airports) as well as for Digital Sky Demonstrators (tailoring to local situations) without very costly modifications to operational systems.

Why is air traffic management and its digital transformation important to DLR?

Air transport plays a vital role in ensuring the safe and efficient mobility of people and goods around the world. The environmental impact must be balanced with sufficient capacity in the air and on the ground. As Germany's national research centre for aeronautics and space, DLR's mission is to take decisive steps by developing solutions for efficient air traffic management and the optimisation of airport processes such as the invention of the remote tower technology in 2002. DLR is working on the development and application of future processes and technologies for the integrated airborne and ground-based control of aircraft. This means using airspace more flexibly and efficiently, as well as enabling airports to optimise their impact while minimising fuel consumption and environmental impact. DLR's ultimate vision is to achieve zero-emission air transport. DLR sees significant changes taking place in the near future to accomplish gree transportation, with a changing role for air traffic controllers and steps towards higher levels of automation.

What are DLR’s top three innovation priorities?

DLR is working intensively on single-pilot and single-controller concepts and in the development of the necessary new assistance systems that can act as virtual pilots or controllers. For example, speech understanding developed by DLR has been shown to reduce the workload of air traffic controllers (e.g. by pre-filling electronic systems).

U-space, the traffic control for drones is moving at an extremely fast pace from exploratory research to industrial implementation. Legislation is being developed at a European level to ensure a coherent approach across the continent. DLR's involvement in the development of new concepts for traffic control and the transfer of European legislation into national regulations is helping to ensure that new market entrants can operate without hindrance, thus stimulating economic development.

DLR develops technologies for a sustainable future. In the context of ATM, this means focusing on new procedures and technologies that allow highly efficient operations. This will enable low-emission ("green") flight paths, including non-CO2 effects, as well as zero-emission airports.

In which flagships of the Digital European Sky programme is DLR particularly interested in getting involved, and why?

DLR uses the expertise of its many research institutes and facilities to cover a wide range of activities, and aims to contribute to most of the flagships. DLR is committed to finding solutions to major societal issues. As climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, the agency aims to make a significant contribution to the aviation Green Deal flagship. Achieving the established climate targets will require a disruptive approach. Today's airspace structures and air traffic management are optimised primarily for safety and capacity. With the right steps, this can be extended to include climate-friendly goals such as minimising CO2 emissions and reducing condensation trails. To achieve this goal, air traffic management will have to become much more automated than it is today.