The air traffic management (ATM) laboratory provides a holistic approach for transformational research in which aircraft, air transportation and air traffic management are integrated in a unique environment towards excellence in academics and technology.

Using the facility

The facility is based on a local network of HMIs capable of supporting a common understanding of the flight operations centres, air traffic control centres, airports and network management. The simulation facilities create a virtual ATM multi-agent environment to analyse, verify and validate changes on the ATM system based on current or foreseen technical enablers, facilitating the acquisition of a complete vision of the impact on the different agents within air traffic management on airspace users

The ATM laboratory is composed of an airport control tower simulator, up to four controller working positions for cruise and approach phases of flight, and flight simulators and pseudo-pilots positions to virtualise realistic exercises in real time. The flexibility of the different equipment permits testing and evaluation of the expected improvements provided by technical and operational aspects based on highly advanced ATM concepts.