The SESAR JU Annual Conference, a key event for the future of European air traffic management (ATM), took place in Brussels on 18 February 2025. The focus was on the presentation of the new ATM Masterplan, which aims to pave the way for a sustainable, digital and globally competitive aviation industry in Europe. For AIRlabs Austria, our Managing Director Roswitha Wiedenhofer-Bornemann and our Technical and Scientific Director Holger Friehmelt were on site to gain valuable insights and strategic impulses for the further development of our own innovation strategy.

The ATM Masterplan 2025 – sustainable aviation as a global goal

A central theme of the conference was the ATM Masterplan 2025, which defines green, sustainable aviation as the main goal on a global level. Twelve technologies were presented that are intended to drive this change forward. Despite ambitious technical developments, there is currently a lack of collaborative implementation of this vision. ’The future of aviation requires a collaborative approach. We need to work together on sustainable solutions to not only accelerate progress, but also to shape it responsibly,’ emphasised Roswitha Wiedenhofer-Bornemann.

Technological topics of the future and challenges

The event also shed light on forward-looking areas of research, including quantum computing, AI-supported decision-making processes and the training of future specialists. In the field of artificial intelligence in particular, the challenges were discussed alongside the potential: What impact will AI have on the world of work? What concerns exist about technological change? One example of this is the concern that air traffic controllers could lose their jobs due to automation and AI.

’The engineers of 2045 are still in kindergarten today. This means that we need to set the course now for future-oriented training and technology development,’ emphasised a SESAR JU spokesperson.

Innovations in drone technology: from vertiports to urban delivery drones

Another highlight was the ‘Digital Sky Marketplace Exhibition’, where 43 SESAR projects were presented. These included around five drone projects, which focussed on vertiports and urban delivery drones, among other things. The discussion about the paradigm shift in sensor technology was particularly exciting: in future, drones could manage with fewer external sensors, as they can intuitively navigate their surroundings in a similar way to humans.

In the field of urban delivery drones, a particular focus was placed on wind tunnel effects in cities. State-of-the-art simulators will be used to analyse these micro-effects in order to improve the safety and efficiency of drone deliveries.

AIRlabs Austria as part of the sustainable future of aviation

In addition to the technical discussions, the conference also provided a valuable platform for dialogue with industry representatives. In particular, existing connections with well-known players such as Frequentis and Austro Control were deepened and new contacts were made, which are important for the further development of cooperation approaches in sustainable aviation.

For AIRlabs Austria, the conference was a confirmation: ‘We are also committed to sustainable, green aviation – especially in the field of drone technology. The collaborative approach that was highlighted at the SESAR JU Annual Conference 2025 is a key element for us in the development of innovative, practical solutions,’ summarises Roswitha Wiedenhofer-Bornemann.

The SESAR JU Annual Conference 2025 clearly showed that European aviation is at a decisive turning point. The technologies are available—now it is time to collaboratively implement them and actively shape a sustainable future.

Image section 1: From left to right: Elisabeth Landrichter (Austro Control), Roswitha Wiedenhofer-Bornemann (AIRlabs Austria), Holger Friehmelt (AIRlabs Austria)

Image section 2: Panel discussions with top experts, including Michael Holzbauer (Frequentis)Bildausschnitt 2: Podiumsdiskussionen mit Top-Expert:innen, darunter Michael Holzbauer (Frequentis)