COOPANS, a leading international cooperation between six European air navigation service providers, is set to upgrade its Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The consortium includes Austria’s Austro Control, Croatia’s Croatia Control, Denmark’s Naviair, Ireland’s AirNav Ireland, Portugal’s NAV Portugal, and Sweden’s LFV. Together, these providers manage Europe’s largest air traffic volume, accounting for 14% of European air traffic.
As part of this modernization effort, COOPANS will adopt Thales’s TopSky-ATC One, a state-of-the-art product solution that aligns with the European ATM Master Plan and the Digital European Sky initiatives. These initiatives aim to harmonize and improve air traffic management across Europe using advanced digital technologies.
The TopSky-ATC upgrade will enhance air traffic management capabilities by providing advanced features that enable better coordination, faster decision-making, and improved accuracy for air traffic controllers. The upgraded system will offer an enhanced user interface with clearer visualizations and optimized ergonomics, streamlining operations and increasing efficiency.
In addition, the new system will strengthen the integration of radar data and flight plans, improving aircraft surveillance and trajectory accuracy. The advanced real-time decision support features will assist air traffic controllers in managing complex situations, ultimately improving the safety and productivity of air operations.
This upgrade also aligns with the European Union’s ambitious Single European Sky (SES) project, which seeks to create a unified and efficient airspace across Europe. Philipp Piber, Chairman of the COOPANS Alliance Board, emphasized the importance of the upgrade, stating, “The upgrade of our system to the state-of-the-art TopSky-ATC solution is a significant milestone in order to be able to manage increasing air traffic in a safe, efficient and sustainable way in the future. A modern, open, and modular ATM system will ensure flexibility, adaptability, and interoperability, enabling seamless integration of new technological advancements. The commitment and professionalism of all our staff, who worked so hard on the specifications for the system modernisation, played a key role in ensuring that we could continue with this highly successful cooperation.”
Thales also welcomed the partnership, with Christian Rivierre, VP of Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales, noting, “We are pleased that COOPANS has selected Thales’ TopSky – ATC One offering, including its system upgrade and innovative governance model. This decision ensures that COOPANS will benefit from the most advanced air traffic control (ATC) technology available, as Thales continues to lead the evolution of the industry. By partnering with Thales, COOPANS will enhance interoperability, efficiency, and safety in air traffic management. Together, we are shaping the future of airspace, advancing toward a more integrated and sustainable system in line with the ambitious objectives of the Digital European Sky project.”
Thanks to a new governance model, Thales will ensure that the priorities of its Air Navigation Service Provider customers are met, enabling the continuous evolution of the TopSky-ATC solution to address industry demands while improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability in European air operations.
The system upgrade is currently in development, with hardware deployment, software integration, and intensive validations scheduled until 2028. The upgraded system will be implemented in COOPANS in three waves, from 2028 to 2030.
