Imagine the sky as a highway system where cars are now being replaced by super-fast jets and floating solar balloons. Right now, the traffic controllers for regular planes don't have the tools to manage these high-flying newcomers. This project builds the digital tools and rulebooks to make sure these different vehicles don't crash into each other.
Current air traffic systems cannot safely manage the mix of traditional planes, solar balloons, and hypersonic jets. This creates a bottleneck for companies wanting to launch space missions or deploy high-altitude platforms in Europe.
Three TRL6 solutions: a real-time space mission monitoring module for network managers, a HAPS integration procedural package, and a supersonic/hypersonic/suborbital integration package.
If you are a vehicle developer dealing with restrictive flight corridors — this project developed a procedural package and sandbox module that allows your high-speed craft to integrate safely into European air traffic. This reduces delays and simplifies the path to operational flights.
If you are a connectivity provider dealing with complex airspace permissions for solar planes or balloons — this project developed a specific procedural package for HAPS. This enables persistent flight for months without conflicting with standard aviation traffic.
If you are a launch provider dealing with air traffic disruptions during rocket ascent — this project developed a Real Time Mission Monitoring Module. This gives air traffic managers better visibility to handle launches and re-entries without shutting down large chunks of airspace.
Based on available project data, operations in the airspace above FL550 are estimated to have business values in the order of billions of euros per year.
The project is validating three specific solutions at TRL6, meaning they are moving from laboratory prototypes to system-level validation in a relevant environment.
Based on available project data, the project is coordinated by EUROCONTROL with 25 partners, but specific licensing terms are not detailed in the summary.
The project includes assessments of specific standardization and regulatory activities needed to integrate higher altitude operations into the European ATM system.
Integration is achieved through three specific modules: a real-time monitoring module for the Network Manager and two procedural packages for HAPS and high-speed vehicles.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 16 industrial partners representing 64% of the 25 total members. This high ratio of industry involvement, combined with the leadership of EUROCONTROL, suggests the project is focused on commercial viability and operational deployment rather than theoretical research.
Contact EUROCONTROL (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation) in Belgium.
Contact us to explore how to integrate your high-altitude vehicle into the ECHO 2 procedural packages.
