3.3 Key transformation levers

Delivering the vision and its associated performance ambition will require a strong focus on five key transformation levers (see Figure 3), as well as the use of various tools, policy measures and the full collaboration of involved aviation stakeholders.

Figure 3: Transformation levers

3.3.1 Trajectory optimisation

The skies of tomorrow will be more diverse. Electric and hydrogen aircraft, large remotely piloted uncrewed and autonomous aircraft and high-altitude vehicles will enter the mix of operations, and the needs of the military will evolve. Guaranteeing systematic, continuous and precise optimisation of all aircraft trajectories throughout their life cycle, from planning to execution, from gate to gate, and within congested airspace, is only possible with trajectory-based operations (TBO).

See Appendix A.1 for the TBO roadmap.

3.3.2 Data volumes

Trajectory optimisation will require the collection, secure transfer and processing of large volumes of data, including individual aircraft performance characteristics, user preferences, real-time traffic information and meteorological conditions, throughout the network. Increased real-time sharing of secure and trusted data will enable airborne and ground systems and actors to stay interconnected and share relevant collective situational awareness.

3.3.3 Automation

Higher levels of automation will be introduced in the air and on the ground in the form of advanced digital tools (in some cases using AI) to deal safely with complex decision-making while increasing the capacity and environmental performance. This increased automation will require the teaming up of human operators and systems (i.e. human–machine teaming) to make best use of the large volumes of data to optimise trajectories.

See Section A.3, which defines the automation roadmap. This roadmap includes a framework for categorising the levels of automation, ensuring alignment with EASA’s artificial intelligence roadmap 2.0 (1).

3.3.4 Dynamic airspace

Dynamic airspace will enable a near real-time configuration of the airspace, with human operators and systems teaming up to meet the needs of all airspace users (civil and military) and to manage capacity more efficiently.

For certain phases of flight, the system will be fully automated and able to handle both nominal and non-nominal situations. Airspace configuration, which today is designed to minimise complexity for human operators, will become more dynamic in near real-time.

3.3.5 Role and function of human operators

The teaming up of human operators and systems (i.e. human-machine teaming) will result in a gradual evolution of the role and skills of human operators (e.g. air traffic controllers, air traffic safety electronics personnel, flight crew and operators, etc.), as well as the emergence of new roles.A robust and resilient ATM system will empower humans to act flexibly especially in non-nominal situations.

See Section A.3 for details of the automation roadmap and human–machine teaming.