Members of COOPANS have met in France to launch the upgrade of their air traffic control system with Thales’ TopSky solution.
COOPANS (Cooperation between Air Navigation Service Providers) members combined manage 14% of Europe’s of air traffic. They six members are Austro Control, Croatia Control, Denmark’s Naviair, AirNav Ireland, NAV Portugal and Sweden’s LFV.
The members met this month at Thales Headquarters at Rungis, France to launch the next phase of ATM System modernisation in Europe, which paves the way for the implementation of the TopSky-ATC One system upgrade.
Thales TopSky is an air traffic control automation solution for controlling en route, approach and oceanic both in civil and military environments.
The TopSky - ATC upgrade will enable COOPANS members to coordinate air traffic in a better and faster way, providing more precise decision-making tools for air traffic controllers and allow them to handle more flights. TopSky-ATC One features an enhanced user interface that provides clearer visualization of essential information and optimizes ergonomics to streamline operations.
The upgraded system will strengthen the integration of radar data and flight plans, enabling better surveillance and greater accuracy in detecting aircraft trajectories. Advanced real-time decision support capabilities will facilitate the management of complex situations to improve the safety and productivity of air operations further.
The upgrade is in line with the EU’s Single European Sky (SES) project, which aims to harmonize and optimize air traffic management across Europe, creating a single and efficient airspace.
The system upgrade is currently in the development phase. Hardware deployment, software integration, and intensive validations will take place in parallel, along with operational and technical training until 2028. The implementation of the upgraded system in COOPANS is planned in three waves from 2028 to 2030.
"The upgrade of our system to the TopSky-ATC solution is a significant milestone in order to be able to manage increasing air traffic in a safe, efficient and sustainable way in the future. A modern, open, and modular ATM system will ensure flexibility, adaptability, and interoperability, enabling seamless integration of new technological advancements. The commitment and professionalism of all our staff, who worked so hard on the specifications for the system modernisation, played a key role in ensuring that we could continue with this highly successful cooperation" said COOPANS Alliance Board Chairman Philipp Piber.
Christian Rivierre, vice president of airspace mobility solutions, Thales said, "We are pleased that COOPANS has selected Thales’ TopSky - ATC One offering, including its system upgrade and innovative governance model. This decision ensures that COOPANS will benefit from the most advanced air traffic control (ATC) technology available, as Thales continues to lead the evolution of the industry.
“By partnering with Thales, COOPANS will enhance interoperability, efficiency, and safety in air traffic management. Together, we are shaping the future of airspace, advancing toward a more integrated and sustainable system in line with the ambitious objectives of the Digital European Sky project."
Thales said it is ensuring that the priorities of ANSPs are met thanks to a new governance model and will also be continuously developing TopSky – ATC to address industry needs.