Rapid changes in technology hold enormous promise for the future use of our airspace as the digital transformation expands skyward. This requires a step-change in the way we manage our skies. Essentially, we are moving from several thousand conventional aircraft in the sky every day to potentially hundreds of thousands of highly connected and automated air vehicles, offering advanced data-driven services and operating in all areas, including cities. This is nothing less than a third revolution in aviation, following those of the first flight and the introduction of the jet engine, which will unlock tremendous value and new avenues for innovation.

In this article, Florian Guillermet, Executive Director, SESAR Joint undertaking, spells out what  SESAR is doing to bring together established and new players to rethink airspace and scale up technologies in preparation for this exciting new era.