The next strategic webinar in our popular EUROCONTROL Stakeholder Forum series will take place on 13 October 2023, where we will be looking at higher airspace operations and what needs to be done to safely accommodate this growing industry and put in place proper coordination mechanisms between air traffic management and space management.

The last decade has seen an increase in emerging airspace users, boosted by technological innovation, looking to exploit new commercial opportunities in higher airspace - the region between the airspace normally used by aircraft and the beginning of space.

The diversity of vehicles is high ranging: from unmanned balloons, airships and solar planes capable of persistent flight, known as High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) to super- and hyper-sonic aircraft, trans-atmospheric and suborbital vehicles. Commercial and State space operations are also transiting through the higher airspace for launches and re-entries. This incredible airspace user mix comprising unmanned, piloted, fast and slow-movers requires a robust operational and regulatory framework.

To help us tackle this hot topic and explore some of the key questions around it including the challenge of integrating space traffic management and classic ATM, we’ve lined up experts from across the higher airspace ops value chain.

We'll be looking at the scope and objectives of these recommendations; how from an operational standpoint advance planning, data & information sharing among all the relevant operational stakeholders is vital in order to safely accommodate the re-entry of space debris into the European aviation network; and how from a crisis management point of view, mitigation measures have been developed to help secure our skies based on lessons learned and best practices developed from past experience.

Join our expert team to discuss the topic and help build a clearer picture of the current situation, challenges and opportunities. Tune in on the day from 14:30 CET!