CAAS and Thales to kick-start research and development of an Open Air Traffic Management System Architecture

An Open Air Traffic Management (ATM) system architecture will be the cornerstone of Singapore’s future ATM system.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Thales have signed an agreement, to conduct research and development (R&D) for an Open ATM System architecture of the future. The agreement was signed by Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS, and Alex Cresswell, Executive Vice President Land and Air Systems, on the sidelines of the World ATM Congress in Madrid. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the two organisations in February 2018 to cooperate on developing new concepts of operations for ATM as well as the next generation of ATM technologies.

Under the research collaboration agreement, CAAS and Thales will work together over the next 20 months to design and develop the Open ATM System architecture, which will present a shift in operational capabilities and robustness. An Open ATM System architecture is modular, scalable and supplier agnostic. It therefore enables greater flexibility and new ATM innovations to be integrated at an accelerated pace.

Most commercial ATM systems need to take into consideration the compatibility and complexity arising from the integration with third party ATM systems. An open architecture would provide more flexibility and ease for integration of the required modifications and changes in a multi-ATM suppliers or systems architecture.

“Air traffic is anticipated to grow in complexity in the region, and this will place unprecedented strain on Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). ANSPs must be agile in adapting to the ever changing landscape and plan ahead of the curve. We are pleased to collaborate with Thales and be the first ANSP in the world to carry out such in-depth research and development on an Open ATM System architecture, which will be a cornerstone of Singapore’s future ATM system. It will enable Singapore to respond at an accelerated pace to the many changes in the aviation landscape. An Open ATM System architecture will also benefit the ATM community and ANSPs who can tap on the R&D knowledge and architecture to level up their ATM systems and innovate improvements,” said Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS.

Mr Alex Cresswell, Thales EVP for Land and Air Systems, added, “We will only be able to manage the increasing complexity in Aviation by using digital technologies. CAAS and Thales as pioneers in the digital aviation field collaborate for the air traffic management of the future in Asia Pacific and we are proud to start research, with CAAS, on the feasibility of transitioning the system to an open architecture.”

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success.  CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation.

About Thales
The people we all rely on to make the world go round – they rely on Thales. Our customers come to us with big ambitions: to make life better, to keep us safer. Combining a unique diversity of expertise, talents and cultures, our architects design and deliver extraordinary high technology solutions. Solutions that make tomorrow possible, today. From the bottom of the oceans to the depth of space and cyberspace, we help our customers think smarter and act faster - mastering ever greater complexity and every decisive moment along the way. With 66,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of €15.9 billion in 2018.

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