FLUGHAFEN MUNCHEN GMBH

Their core work

Munich Airport (FMG) is one of Europe's major international airports and a key operational testbed for next-generation air traffic management (ATM) systems under the SESAR programme. They contribute real-world airport infrastructure, operational data, and domain expertise to validate advanced concepts for runway throughput, terminal airspace management, and digital tower operations. Their role is to bridge the gap between ATM research and live airport operations, ensuring that new procedures and technologies work in a high-traffic, complex airport environment.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2016–2019), FMG focused broadly across the SESAR landscape — network-level planning (demand-capacity balancing, ATM flow management), master planning roadmaps, surface management, and safety nets. In the later period (2019–2023), their work concentrated on operational performance at the airport-TMA interface: arrival/departure queue management, continuous climb and descent operations (CCO/CDO), performance-based navigation, and integrated runway-TMA operations. The shift reflects a move from broad ATM architecture participation toward deep operational validation of specific airport performance improvements.

FMG is converging on end-to-end airport performance integration — combining arrivals, departures, runway management, and TMA operations into unified systems — making them a strong partner for any future project on digitalized airport operations.

How they like to work

FMG participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for large infrastructure operators who contribute operational environments and domain expertise rather than leading research. With 105 unique partners across 26 countries, they operate within the broad SESAR ecosystem of large, multi-partner consortia. Their consistent presence across both SESAR Wave 1 and Wave 2 projects shows they are a reliable, long-term partner valued for real-world validation capabilities.

FMG has collaborated with 105 unique partners across 26 countries, placing them firmly within the core SESAR research and validation network spanning most of Europe. Their network is broad and institutionally embedded rather than built on bilateral relationships.

What sets them apart

As one of Europe's busiest airports, Munich Airport offers something most research partners cannot: a live, high-complexity operational environment for validating ATM concepts at scale. Their consistent involvement across nearly every SESAR domain — from surface management to TMA operations to remote towers — means they understand how individual improvements interact within a real airport system. For any consortium needing an airport operational partner in Germany with deep SESAR experience, FMG is a proven choice with institutional continuity across both SESAR waves.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PJ04-W2 TAM
  Received FMG's largest single funding (EUR 266,000) for Total Airport Management, addressing airport-network integration, environmental management, and MET impact — their signature domain.
• PJ37-W3 ITARO
  Their most recent project (2021–2023) integrating TMA, airport, and runway operations into a single framework, representing the culmination of FMG's multi-project trajectory.
• VLD3-W2 SORT
  A validation demonstration project focused on safely increasing runway throughput through pairwise separation and wake decay devices — directly tied to airport capacity, FMG's core business concern.