Project description
A new take on European airspace integration
In the expansive European airspace above an altitude of 55 000 feet (above sea level), a significant surge in operations is imminent. It’s driven by new entrants from both aviation and space sectors, promising billions in annual business. However, the existing European air traffic management (ATM) system is not equipped to seamlessly integrate these higher altitude operations, which are marked by distinct safety and operational demands. With this in mind, the EU-funded ECHO 2 project aims to modernise and harmonise the ATM system while addressing critical issues of real-time monitoring, operational integration and regulatory challenges. The project brings together stakeholders and prepares for a future in the skies. Standardisation and regulatory considerations are also in the project’s purview.
Objective
The European airspace above FL550 is expected to become an area where operations will significantly expand as a result of increased new entrants presence representing both aviation and space domains, with estimated business values in the order of billions of euros per year.
The European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, including ATC’s operational procedures and systems, needs modernization and adaptation to allow seamless integration of Higher Altitude Operations (HAO) because of vastly different characteristics of vehicles and associated operational, safety and performance requirements.
ECHO-2 will build on the deliverables of the ECHO (European Concept of Higher airspace Operations) project, starting from the Concept of Operations, to propose validated solutions paving the way towards the operational integration of HAO in ATM, on three directions:
- Space Launch Real Time Monitoring Module and associated working station for the European ATM Network Manager for increased situational awareness at Network level, supporting Air Traffic Flow Management as well as crisis and contingency management.
- Procedural Package covering specific ground and air-ground operational integration issues (including for communications, navigation and surveillance means) associated with the integration of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) operations into ATM
- Procedural Package covering specific ground and air-ground operational integration issues (including for communications, navigation and surveillance means) associated with the integration of supersonic, hypersonic and suborbital vehicles operations into ATM.
These solutions will propose all the elements needed by the European ATM Network operational stakeholders for a rapid, harmonized and cost-effective implementation of a European approach towards the integration between ATM and HAO, at TRL6 maturity. They will also include assessments of potential specific related standardization and regulatory activities.
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
1130 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium
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Participants (22)
81043 Capua
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00195 Roma
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28760 Tres Cantos
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63225 Langen
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28022 Madrid
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
28036 Madrid
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31400 Toulouse
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00185 Roma
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00138 Roma
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28906 Getafe
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75720 Paris
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31400 Toulouse
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38106 Braunschweig
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
602 27 Norrkoping
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
581 83 Linkoping
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T23 Cork
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74196 Neuenstadt Am Kocher
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
51147 Koln
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13300 Ciudad Real
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78990 Elancourt
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1700 008 Lisboa
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31100 Toulouse
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Partners (2)
SG1 2AS HERFORDSHIRE
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PO15 7FL Fareham
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