FREQUENTIS ORTHOGON GMBH

Their core work

Frequentis Orthogon (formerly Barco Orthogon) is a Bremen-based specialist in air traffic management decision support systems, particularly arrival and departure management (AMAN/DMAN) tools for airports and terminal manoeuvring areas. They develop software solutions that help air navigation service providers optimize aircraft sequencing, queue management, and continuous climb/descent operations. Their systems are deployed at major European airports to improve runway throughput, reduce delays, and lower fuel consumption and emissions during approach and departure phases.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2016-2019) focused on core arrival/departure sequencing and cross-border arrival management trials through PJ01 EAD and PJ25 XSTREAM. From 2019 onward, their work expanded to include performance-based navigation, dynamic routing, rotorcraft integration, and continuous climb/descent optimization, as seen in PJ01-W2's rich keyword set. The most recent project (PJ37-W3 ITARO, 2021) signals a shift toward fully integrated TMA-airport-runway operations, moving from isolated AMAN/DMAN tools to system-wide operational optimization.

They are moving from standalone arrival/departure management tools toward integrated airport-wide operational decision support, making them increasingly relevant for total airport management initiatives.

How they like to work

Frequentis Orthogon participates exclusively as a third party in SESAR projects, meaning they contribute through a direct participant (likely their parent company Frequentis AG or an ANSP partner) rather than as a named consortium member. Despite this indirect role, they have touched 43 unique partners across 19 countries, indicating they operate within large SESAR validation consortia. This third-party model suggests they bring specialized product expertise (their AMAN/DMAN systems) into large-scale validation exercises rather than driving project design.

Through their SESAR third-party participation, they have connected with 43 unique partners across 19 countries — a remarkably wide network for a company with only 4 projects, reflecting the large consortium sizes typical of SESAR research. Their reach spans most EU member states involved in air traffic management research.

What sets them apart

Frequentis Orthogon is one of very few European companies specializing exclusively in arrival and departure management decision support tools for air traffic control. Their consistent presence across multiple SESAR waves (PJ01, PJ25, PJ01-W2, PJ37-W3) demonstrates they are a trusted technology contributor in this niche. For any consortium working on airport capacity, TMA optimization, or green approach procedures, they bring operational product knowledge that most research partners cannot offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PJ25 XSTREAM
  Focused on cross-border extended arrival management — a politically and technically challenging area requiring coordination between national air navigation service providers.
• PJ37-W3 ITARO
  Their most recent and broadest-scope project, integrating TMA, airport surface, and runway operations into a unified decision framework — represents their strategic direction.
• PJ01-W2 EAD
  The richest in technical scope, covering AMAN, DMAN, dynamic routes, PBN, rotorcraft, and continuous operations — a comprehensive second-wave evolution of the original PJ01.