15 - Guest lectures
MODERNISING AT SCALE: DELIVERING AUSTRALIA’S NEXT-GENERATION AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM
R. Sharp, Airservices Australia, Australia; J. Connolly, THALES, Australia
As aviation becomes more complex, integrated and technology-driven, Airservices Australia is undertaking a once-in-a-generation modernisation of its air traffic management system – designed to support not just rising traffic volumes, but the evolving expectations of governments, industry, and the travelling public.rnrnAt the heart of this transformation is OneSKY, a world-leading joint initiative between Airservices and the Department of Defence, which will deliver Australia’s first fully integrated civil-military air traffic management platform (CMATS), developed in partnership with global aviation technology experts Thales. When operational, OneSKY will unify previously separate systems into a seamless national architecture, enabling real-time coordination, improving resilience, and reducing complexity across one of the largest and most diverse airspace environments in the world. It is expected to unlock over $2.7 billion in long-term economic value, while delivering major environmental and operational benefits – such as fuel and emissions reductions through user-preferred flight planning, and enhanced flexibility as traffic volumes rise.rnrnThe keynote will also highlight how Airservices is embedding new technologies to support more dynamic, data-driven operations across the entire aviation ecosystem. This includes the national rollout of a Flight Information Management System (FIMS), which will underpin safe integration of uncrewed aircraft by coordinating low-level airspace access, automating approvals, and enabling scalable drone and air taxi operations. Complementing this, Airservices is deploying Digital Aerodrome Services to remotely manage tower operations, beginning with Western Sydney International Airport, the first major airport in Australia to open without a traditional physical tower.rnrnWith traffic growth forecast to exceed 30 per cent in the coming years, these reforms are guided by a clear ambition: to deliver smarter, mor