Blueprint

With our annual Blueprint, we share novel ideas and concepts in ATM engineering and technology delivery.

You will find here all the interviews that are present in the Blueprint magazine.

Transformation: Changing the way we think and work

Transformation is a journey, which requires dedicated time, effort and energy from across the organisation.

Zitat

« Virtual Centre is the change agent and we are building new solutions and introducing new thinking around it. »

Klaus Meier, CIO at skyguide

Interview

Lean IT service operation

The transition from the current mode of operation to the future lean IT is a move away from an equipment-based vertical structure to horizontal responsibilities.

Interview

Model-based system engineering: Drawing instead of writing

The Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) focuses on creating and exploiting drawings as the primary means for exchanging information between engineers, rather than being based on documents.

Interview

DevOps: Delivering software faster and safer

The goal of DevOps is to enable a more agile and efficient cooperation between development and IT operations through shared incentives, processes and software tools.

Interview

Software Factory: A new setup for the ATM custom development

The Software Factory plays an important role in fostering the DevOps culture, providing automated end-to-end services, and streamlining all software development activity.

Zitat

« We have to be more agile and more dynamic and we need a high degree of virtualization. »

Florian Guillermet Executive Director at SESAR

Interview

Digitalization: create a new layered model

To counteract the fragmentation and lack of agility in the current ATM environment, the benefits of digitalisation, and its benefits, need to be urgently implemented to improve the performance and quality of services.

Interview

Ensuring safe transformation with HRO

The HRO concept is a set of actions, good practices, behaviour and mindset to reduce risks and prevent incidents, and to react appropriately when ever something happens.

Interview

Operations: Human-centric to system-centric

A much higher flexibility in the way ATCOs are trained and deployed must be achieved, enabling any ATCO to work any piece of airspace from any work position. Location independence will allow for quick reactions to changes in capacity and customer needs.

Interview

Finances: To ensure our future, cost efficiency is mandatory

Since this last decade, pressure on costs is constantly increasing with challenging European Targets (RP3) and loss of state’s subsidies. In order to take on these challenges, skyguide has to completely change its business model and invest in innovative technologies.

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« ATCO jobs will have to be shifted from being human centered to system centered, from air traffic control to air traffic management »

Urs Lauener, COO at skyguide

Interview

Airspace Architecture Study

In order to deliver better performances in Air Traffic Management (ATM), virtualisation and new technologies have to supplement the existing physical infrastructure.

Blueprint 2020

In this 2020 edition, we will tell the story why change – which goes beyond technology – is critical and will provide different perspectives into such a technology-driven organisational and operational transformation.

Interview

Vision 2035: earning the right to exist

“To keep our raison d’être, we have to be lean and flexible, apply advanced technology and deliver effectively and efficiently the services our customers need.” Skyguide CEO Alex Bristol and his executive team have elaborated a vision on the future of the company and the journey to get there by 2035.

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« I see skyguide as a company which is respected and recognized worldwide for its customers focus, innovation capacity and business mindset »

Alex Bristol, CEO skyguide

Interview

CRYSTAL on SOI: from virtuality to reality

Virtualization is one of the foundations on which skyguide is building its future. The Virtual Centre, a cornerstone of virtualization, is in its Tranche 2, where Joël Jordan and our experts strive to implement CRYSTAL, a tool to forecast the air traffic volume.

Interview

Wide area multilateration: a multitude of antennas instead of radar dishes

Multilateration is a proven surveillance technology that can determine the position of aircraft. WAM is the solution proposed by Götz Ardey for skyguide to maintain its efficiency and flexibility in terms of costs and performance.

Interview

Board of directors: skyguide will go through a cultural change

The question for skyguide is how it can improve its ability to change and how it can capitalize on artificial and business intelligence in the near future as the logical continuation of the technology roadmap. Anne Bobillier provides us with her point of view.

Interview

U-Space: the disruptive power of drones

Drones open up new opportunities for professional and leisure purposes and are a major disruptive force to air traffic management. However, airspace is limited and all its users have to be integrated safely, which is why Robert Fraefel strives to develop and implement a new system called "Swiss U-space".

Interview

Advanced runway safety improvement (ARSI)

The runway system in Zurich airport is complex, arrivals and departures are made even more difficult. ARSI is the project that unites skyguide with end users, engineers, zurich airport, and software suppliers in finding a solution to continuously improve safety.

Blueprint 2019

Welcome to the 2019 edition of our Blueprint. We keep progressing in our transformation and continue to position skyguide as an innovator in air traffic management (ATM).
In this new edition, we will go through the steps made in our flagship project, the Virtual Centre, but also extend the scope to other strategic programmes which will lead us towards our vision for the future of Air Traffic Management.

Interview

The Swiss ATM Future, skyguide has chosen the path of innovation

Alexander Bristol (CEO Skyguide) & Klaus Meier (CIO Skyguide)

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« We decided to look for more modern technology which is used in other markets, and apply this technology to ATM »

Klaus Meier, CIO skyguide

Interview

First to Introduce the Virtual Center Model

Interview of James Stucki: Air Traffic Controller Skyguide

Interview

Change and its risks: Technical and organizational transition in a safety-critical environment

Marco Sieber: Head Application Services, Skyguide

The Agile methods, better code quality delivered more efficiently

Frank Barner: RTE, Scrum Master Skyguide

Interview

Skyguide and Skysoft: One sky, One System, One team

Pierre Henri Guisan: Managing Director

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« The target is to set up self-organized teams, still with strong leadership »

Pierre Henri Guisan, Managing Director Skysoft-ATM

Interview

SWIM: Receive data over a modern network

Ross Wilson: Info Systems & Technology Architecture Skyguide

Interview

Information System Modelling and Architecture

Philippe Chauffoureaux : Chief Information Architect Skyguide

Interview

Service-oriented Infrastructure: Complementing the quality management process

Patricia Bomme: Head of Safety and Compliance Skyguide

Tata Consultancy Services

Interview of Heinz Gehri: Country Manager Tata Consultancy Services Switzerland Ltd

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« Optimising the flight plans would reduce flight time, fuel consumption and emissions »

Ross Wilson, SWIM Services Architect

Interview

Refining The Scope: A deep understanding of the VTC2 targets

Interview of Joël Jordan: Head of Account Management Skyguide

Blueprint 2018

Welcome to the 2018 edition of our Blueprint, skyguide’s technology outlook with a focus on our strategic Virtual Centre Initiative. We are now in a phase aiming at building the foundation for the Virtual Centre. Read the full report to find out about all the latest steps taken in this project.