EUROCONTROL deploys the first Air Traffic Management Digital Platform on public cloud and the world's largest aeronautical database, developed by Indra

EUROCONTROL, a international civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation and appointed as the Network Manager, has successfully implemented the first air traffic management digital platform in a public cloud with the cooperation of ATOS and Microsoft, using the Digital Platform developed by Indra. This breakthrough, part of the integrated Network Management (iNM) program, drives the digitalization of the systems that manage the European aviation network.

Indra’s solution constitutes an unprecedented milestone in the air traffic sector, as it has been integrated onto a public cloud and, if necessary, a private infrastructure, enabling all of the players involved to apply more flexible management, adapt to traffic demand, access critical and updated data in real time and guarantee the greatest possible operational resilience. 

Indra has integrated advanced levels of cybersecurity throughout the technical implementation and applied the highest security standards in Microsoft Azure’s public cloud in order to protect all the data handled by the system, in addition to strengthening the security of the operations in a critical environment such as air traffic. Moreover, the development of this Digital Platform in a public cloud infrastructure paves the way for any future advances in air traffic management to be independent of the different hardware infrastructures that support them, thereby reducing the costs associated with physical environments.

The digital platform developed by Indra is hosting the first version of the eEAD (electronic European AIS Database), world's largest aeronautical information system, which will centralize high-quality global data into a single database with enhanced capabilities compared to the current system.

Thanks to the company's development, EUROCONTROL has successfully launched the first version of the eEAD system in "shadow" within a secure environment where Early Adopters can test, execute and validate functionalities in a safe, operationally simulated environment. This allows for the coexistence with the current EAD (European AIS Database), which will continue to operate to ensure the reliable processing and distribution of worldwide NOTAMs and pre-flight information services.

“This Digital Platform constitutes a landmark achievement in the digitization of air traffic management, paving the path to infrastructure independence and full use of the cloud in the European aviation. EUROCONTROL’s pioneering achievement will optimize operations and pave the path to addressing future challenges in a more streamlined and cloud ready manner. Indra is proud to play an important part in this innovative step, which reaffirms our commitment to provide innovative solutions within the industry so as to contribute to sustainable aviation in Europe and on a global scale”, declared Victor Martínez García, head of Indra’s Air Traffic Management (ATM) business for Northern Europe and Canada.

About integrated Network Management (iNM)

Known as iNM, the integrated Network Management programme will revolutionise the EUROCONTROL Network Manager’s operational systems by the end of the decade, introducing a powerful, scalable, and integrated digital architecture that will drive greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the European aviation network.