Events
Airspace World 2026
Events
Airspace World 2026
Airspace World is the world’s largest exhibition and conference in the field of air traffic management. From 26 to 28 May, thousands of trade visitors from all over the world will have the opportunity to find out about the latest trends and developments in this field in Lisbon.
As leading air traffic management (ATM) research organisations, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) provide Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airports, airlines and Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) with independent know-how, cutting-edge research and solutions. Both scientific organisations are committed to improving the resilience, efficiency and safety of the global aviation system while promoting sustainability and reducing operating costs.
DLR and NLR will be showcasing current research on the future of air traffic management at the Airspace World, with several interactive exhibits in hall 1 at stand #H1-E20.
Featured technologies and demonstrations
AI-Driven Automation and Flexibility for Air Traffic Control
European air traffic control is facing pressure from staff shortages, rising traffic demand, climate targets, and operational complexity. DLR will showcase research on AI-based, highly automated, and flexible air traffic management. Discover solutions including the Digital Interactive Radar Controller for single-controller operations, competency-based controller endorsements for greater flexibility, and automated apron control concepts to reduce ground emissions.
Virtual Tower
DLR is taking Remote Tower operations a step further with fully immersive, VR-based control environments that are accessible anytime and anywhere. Experience how location independent ATS, scalable operations and drastically reduced infrastructure costs can unlock new potential for regional and smaller airports. With minimal hardware, low bandwidth requirements and maximum flexibility, Virtual Tower redefines how air traffic services are delivered. Curious how this innovation can enhance efficiency, resilience and service availability across your operations? Come and see a live demonstration of the Virtual Tower.
Network Real-Time Mission Monitoring
DLR is presenting a newly developed Network Real-Time Mission Monitoring tool. It demonstrates how launches and re-entries can be integrated safely, efficiently, flexibly and scalably into the European ATM system. By combining real-time mission data, an improved situational awareness overview and dynamic airspace management, the solution helps to reduce unnecessary disruptions and strengthen incident management across the entire network.
SESAR Walking Tours
Join us on one of the guided SESAR Walking Tours, where you’ll be able to see and try first-hand some of our current research results and achievements. All tours start at the Europe For Aviation stand #H1-E10 – no registration required. For more information, see www.sesarju.eu/AirspaceWorldWalkingTours2026.
Tuesday 26 May
- Tour 01 (9.30): Weather-aware ATM: anticipating conflicts before they happen (ATC TBO), Jürgen Teutsch
- Tour 02 (10.00): Enabling the perfect descent – continuous idle-thrust descents in complex and dynamic ATM environments (DYN-MARS), Fethi Abdelmoula
- Tour 02 (10.00): Closing the loop: integrated optimisation from departure to arrival (CICONIA), Philippe Masson
- Tour 04 (14.15): Smarter training, smarter ways to stay current: evolving ATCO rostering practises (IFAV 3), Sebastian Schier-Morgenthal
- Tour 04 (14.15): From simulation to reality: accelerating ATM innovation safely (VISORS), Gunnar Schwoch, Rolf Zon
- Tour 05 (14.30): Misson-ready airspace – Demonstrating the dynamic use of shared airspace along the Dutch coast in proximity of Schiphol Airport (ENSURE), Jürgen Teutsch
Wednesday 27 May
- Tour 06 (9.30): Digital capacity in action: smarter sector configuration at Schiphol (ISLAND), Jürgen Teutsch
- Tour 11 (15.15): Flight-centric operations: putting the aircraft at the heart of decision-making (FCA), Mara Weber, Přemysl Volf, Eva Puntero
- Tour 11 (15.15): Space in Sight – Integrating launch and re-entries into European ATM through real-time monitoring, situational awareness and dynamic management (ECHO 2), Lorenz Losensky, Sven Kaltenhäuser
- Tour 11 (15.15): Skies without limits – integrating space, high-altitude, and high-speed operations into European ATM (ECHO 2), Alexander Seybold
Thursday 28 May
- Tour 12 (9.45): Making AI safe to use: certifying the next generation of aviation systems (HUCAN), Sebastian Schier-Morgenthal
- Tour 12 (9.45): AI foundations for ATM: building trusted digital assistants (JARVIS), Rolf Zon
Theatre Presentations
| Title | Speakers | Theatre | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Concept to Clearance: Flight-Centric ATC Pre-Deployment Summary | Mara Weber (DLR) and Bernd Korn (DLR) and Dmytro Tereshchenko (UkSATSE) | Viasat Theatre | 26 May | 11.30 |
| The future of air traffic management: How ready are we for AI integration? | Claudia Bacco (Global Airspace Radar), Dirk Kuegler (DLR), Eduardo GarcÃa (CANSO), Ivar Värk (Estonian Air Navigation Services), Marius Muenstermann (Rohde & Schwarz) | Frequentis Theatre | 27 May | 13.00 |
Visit both research organizations at stand #H1-E20 to discuss and experience how independent research and expertise can contribute to ATM innovation! We look forward to welcoming you in Lisbon.
About Airspace World
Airspace World is the premier global event bringing together leaders in manned and unmanned aviation to shape the future of ATM. The conference will feature discussions on topics such as innovation, sustainability, advanced air mobility and cybersecurity, with the aim of fostering collaboration and driving progress towards a safer and more efficient aviation ecosystem.
