Milestone
This action involves moving the new ATM system from simulation to a live, large-scale demonstration. This means proving its safety and efficiency in a real-world setting, such as with fully autonomous, AI-managed flight operations across the 'North Atlantic Tracks' (NATs).
Failure to demonstrate this at scale means the technology remains unproven. This makes it impossible to gain the regulatory and public trust needed for the final "Long Term" implementation, keeping the inefficient, fossil-fuel-optimized ATM system in place.
Scenario
Optimising together
Context Factor
A unified global regulatory, legal, and data framework for the net-zero transition and seamless air travel.
Timeline
Medium term
PESTEL
Implement the unified, AI-driven global ATM system as the universal standard.
This is the final, system-wide rollout, making the new, proven ATM protocols the universal standard for all air traffic. This involves the decommissioning of all legacy national ATC systems in favor of the single, autonomous U-space.
Read moreValidate foundational AI models for autonomous systems in the digital twin.
This involves testing and validating the core AI models for full autonomous flight control and next generation air traffic control in a purely simulated environment. This "in-silico" testing (e.g., using the new digital twin architecture) is used to prove the AI's safety and decision-making logic before it is ever connected to a real aircraft.
Read moreLaunch pilot programs for advanced operational and aerodynamic concepts.
This involves launching the first small-scale, real-world tests for advanced operational concepts using existing aircraft. This includes demonstrating the fuel-saving potential of concepts like formation flight and continuous descent approach in controlled, live airspace to prove their value.
Read moreMeasure not yet developed by WP3. To be further detailed after 1 dec in future iterations.
Financial incentives to use the most sustainable travel option provides positive incentives to shift passenger behavior. This measure also indirectly motivates (air) transport operators to improve the sustainability of their offerings.
Part of the funds derived from taxations or market based measures can be used to co-invest with the travel industry in sustainable technological innovation. This helps airlines to offer sustainable travel options with a good passenger experience to a wider demographic including grey nomads, travel fanatics and ‘bleisure’ travellers. Airlines can then shift their business models from volume driven to (sustainable) value driven travel.
Measure not yet developed by WP3. To be further detailed after 1 dec in future iterations.
Multi modal journeys provides positive incentives to shift from a single (unsustainable) mode towards a more sustainable mix of transport modes.
As a multi-modal ecosystem matures, reliability and flexibility needs to be increased. After the basic infrastructure is in place and proven, an (AI-)orchestrator should be added so more complex itineraries can be planned and managed during disruptions. The improved reliability and flexibility opens up multi-modal journeys for a wider selection of travel persona’s: e.g. grey nomads, business travelers, and visiting friends and relatives. The most demanding personas are likely to be families and travelers with disabilities over concerns in the reliability and predictability of the system.
"Digital platforms, AI-powered tools, and dynamic dashboards are being adopted by the industry to evaluate mitigation performance, optimize operations, and share best practices." (2025 ICAO Environmental Report, p. 67)
"However, despite traditionally being depicted as having a smaller contribution to net-zero, ATM and operational improvements offer a significant potential for reducing CO2 and related emissions in the short to medium term." (2025 ICAO Environmental Report, p. 125)
"To complement in-situ measurements, ground-based cameras, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) are being utilized as additional sources of data for navigational avoidance system validation. In addition, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence technologies are being exploited to improve weather forecasting models through data assimilation." (2025 ICAO Environmental Report, p. 148)