by Elsie Clark | Jan 14, 2026 | AI & ML, Avionics, Connectivity, Flight Ops IT, Innovation, MRO IT, Sustainability
We are excited to announce a significant strategic update to Aerospace Tech Week 2026: the event will now take place in London, UK!
Moving from Munich, Germany to the world-leading Excel exhibition centre means the event can better serve the evolving needs of the aerospace industry. Additionally, new confirmed dates of 11 – 12 November 2026 give us more time to craft our dynamic exhibitor hall and informative agenda.
Lucy Matthews, Senior Conference Producer for Aerospace Tech Week, said:
Moving Aerospace Tech Week to London represents a major step forward for the event. It gives us the opportunity to grow our audience, expand the technical depth of the programme, and deliver our biggest and best edition yet.
Why join us in London?
- A global gateway: Unrivalled international connectivity to attract a truly global visitor base.
- The hub of innovation: Direct access to the UK’s leading aerospace, tech, and investment sectors.
- Enhanced programme: The new dates provide an extended runway to build our most ambitious conference and exhibition to date.
As we prepare for our biggest edition yet, we are now inviting industry leaders to secure their place in the 2026 programme.
Want to be part of the London launch? Whether you are looking to showcase your latest technology on the exhibition floor, lead the conversation as a speaker, or elevate your brand through sponsorship, we want to hear from you.
Click here to speak, sponsor, or exhibit.
Confirmed speakers already including representatives from the UK Ministry of Defence, Oman Air, Airbus, the Civil Aviation Authority, and TAP Maintenance & Engineering.
We look forward to welcoming you and the rest of the global aerospace community to London in November 2026.
About Aerospace Tech Week
Aerospace Tech Week is an event focused on driving innovation and technology advancements in the aerospace sector. Bringing together senior executives and technical leaders, ATW connects the whole value chain of aerospace to discuss, connect, and collaborate on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.
In 2026 we are excited to reunite our community of 1,500 industry experts for two inspiring days featuring over 120 speakers. Key topics covered include AI, avionics, flight ops, and sustainability, while our exhibitor and networking programmes spark connections that drive transformations across the industry.
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by Elsie Clark | Jan 6, 2026 | Connectivity, Innovation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a US$438 million contract to Collins Aerospace for the renovation of radar infrastructure.
Under the Radar System Replacement programme, the FAA is investing in radar to improve the operational readiness of air traffic control. Next-generation tech will support the upgrade, including Collins’s co-operative and non-co-operative radar systems. A single architecture will be used instead of the current fragmented legacy structure.
Nate Boelkins, president of Avionics at Collins Aerospace, said:
As a trusted supplier to the FAA for more than 70 years, Collins is ready to rapidly deploy next-generation radar systems that replace outdated technology with a single, modern and interoperable solution. These systems integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, enhance safety and efficiency for air traffic controllers, reduce long-term costs, and ensure the system is prepared for the future of the National Airspace.
Condor Mk3 and ASR XM radar systems are among those included as part of the contract. Together, they will facilitate more precise aircraft tracking, especially at lower altitudes. Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary of RTX, which already has over 550 radar systems operating across the US.
Modernisation of American air traffic control has become an increasing priority in recent years. In 2025, Congress approved a US$12.5 billion modernisation plan for upgrading infrastructure across the country. Meanwhile, the government has also attempted to expedite the training of air traffic controllers, with a shortage of trained personnel also affecting the FAA’s efficiency in flight management.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the future of air traffic control.
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by Elsie Clark | Dec 16, 2025 | Connectivity, Innovation
Searidge Technologies has successfully implemented a digital control tower at Vigo Airport, Spain.
The first of its kind in the country, the tower features a high-resolution, 360-degree real-time visual display of traffic at the airport. Developed in partnership with Skyway, the system has been approved by the aviation authorities and is now in operation.
The display uses a feed of sensors and cameras to enhance traffic controllers’ situational awareness, ultimately improving the safety and efficiency of the airport. Searidge Technologies CEO Moodie Cheikh said:
We’re proud to support Aena [Spain’s airport operator] in achieving this important milestone.
The operational launch at Vigo marks a first for Spain and underscores Europe’s leadership in digital tower innovation. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as Aena advances its strategy to digitise and future-proof airport operations across the country.
A phased introduction will ensure safety standards are upheld during the transition to the digital system. Operations will first take place during times of low air traffic with standard control towers as a backup. The new system puts Vigo in line with modern international airports including Dubai International, London Heathrow, and Singapore Changi. Searidge’s digital tower has also been in operation at Hamad International Airport in Saudi Arabia, the first large-scale system of its kind approved by regulators in the Middle East
The news at Vigo Airport comes after IATA revealed that air traffic control delays in Europe have more than doubled since 2015.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the future of air traffic control.
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by Elsie Clark | Dec 9, 2025 | Connectivity
Research from IATA has found that air traffic control (ATC) delays in Europe have doubled over the past decade.
This increase has far outpaced the rate of traffic growth (6.7%), and affected 1.1 billion passengers. IATA estimates the delays have collectively cost the industry €16.1 billion since 2015. Delays due to weather and strikes were not covered in the analysis, which found staff shortages to be overwhelmingly responsible for ATC’s poor performance.
Staff capacity-related disruptions have increased by 179.7% and staffing-related delays by 201.7% since 2015. IATA Director-General Willie Walsh commented:
We’re now seeing the consequences of Europe’s failure to get a grip on air traffic control. A small, expected improvement in 2025 from a very bad 2024 does not change the deterioration that we have seen over the last decade. Airlines and travellers were promised a Single European Sky that would cut delays and reduce fuel burn through more efficient navigation and routes. Instead, passengers have seen delays more than double.
10 of the 39 European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) were responsible for 87% of all delays. France (DSNA) and Germany (DFS) alone were responsible for more than 50% of delays. These statistics demonstrate how a handful of countries are having a disproportionately negative impact on the continent’s ATC performance.
Walsh added:
While Eurocrats debate ways to increase the burden of EU261 passenger compensation, the root cause of much of the delay suffered by travellers—air traffic control—escapes without action or censure. And Europe’s connectivity and competitiveness suffer from schedules that must accommodate ATC inefficiency. It is completely unacceptable.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026, where we’ll be joined by Heiko Teper, Head of Strategy and Technical Deployment, SESAR Deployment Manager.
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by Elsie Clark | Dec 3, 2025 | Connectivity
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has confirmed that ‘regular’ jamming and spoofing incidents have been taking place at the country’s airports since 2023.
In a written answer presented to parliament, the minister reported that his department was aware of GPS disruption at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport, as well as at Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai.
The source of the jamming and spoofing is yet to be confirmed, though as of yet it has not led to any harm. With critical flight control software relying on GPS, any interference can have disastrous safety consequences. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked the Wireless Monitoring Organization to trace the source.
The minister’s statement adds:
[AAI] is implementing advanced cyber security solutions for IT Networks and Infrastructure. […] Cyber security is ensured by continuous upgradation. As the nature and type of the threat changes, new protective measures are being taken.
The number of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents has risen substantially in recent years, especially in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. In September 2025, a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was even forced to land in Bulgaria using paper maps due to GPS interference.
States in Scandinavia and the Baltics have also complained of repeated GPS spoofing, blaming Russian activity for the disruption. At the same time, the European Space Agency (ESA) is investing in quantum positioning technology to try and overcome the security weaknesses of GPS.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026, where expert panels will be discussing the future of cybersecurity in aviation, including combatting GPS spoofing and jamming.
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by Elsie Clark | Dec 2, 2025 | Connectivity
Austro Control, Austria’s air navigation service provider, has selected ADB Safegate to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of the air traffic control (ATC) systems at Vienna Airport (VIE).
Following a competitive international tendering process, the company chose ADB Safegate’s sophisticated OneControl integrated platform, a cutting-edge tower suite designed to modernise all controller working positions in the Vienna Airport ATC Tower. The advanced system, already in use at major international hubs like Hamburg, is set for commissioning by the end of 2028.
OneControl’s key feature is its ability to unify disparate systems. Traditionally, air traffic controllers work across numerous independent displays for functions like surveillance and flight planning. The new platform integrates all safety-critical information into a single, intuitive interface, providing controllers with immediate and complete situational awareness of aircraft and vehicle movements on the apron, aerodrome, and in the air. This consolidation facilitates faster, more accurate decision-making and is expected to enhance overall safety, streamline operations, and support more efficient, sustainable air traffic management.
Philipp Piber, Managing Director of Austro Control, highlighted the strategic importance of the upgrade, stating:
With OneControl, we are relying on state-of-the-art technology and maximum operational reliability. The system will provide our air traffic controllers with optimal support in the safe and efficient handling of air traffic.
The system also includes features such as advanced conflict detection and automated workflows aimed at reducing controller workload and helping the airport to optimise its airside efficiency.
Vienna Airport handled over 31 million passengers in 2024, its highest numbers since 2019. ATC investment will help make air traffic management at Austria’s aviation hub more streamlined and effective.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026 to discuss the future of air traffic control.
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