SVP Land and Sea Business Area – ATM Line of business - Leonardo
Maria Iole Gentile
Maria Iole Gentile, SVP Land and Sea Business Area – ATM Line of Business, Leonardo, describes the actions necessary to deliver the future of air traffic management.
The road to the future
Although investment in technology is obviously crucial, it is equally vital to invest in people.
Leonardo is making huge efforts to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines and guide younger generations towards relevant professional paths. We must remember that ecological and environmental sustainability are based on social sustainability. Diversity and inclusion have contributed to building Leonardo’s identity, giving shape to a culture of respect that protects the wellbeing of its people.
ATM is also benefitting from this approach and, by channelling our efforts and passion, it is possible to imagine today the ATM of tomorrow.
Civil-military interoperability
The increasing complexity of the digitalisation-cybersecurity scenario must incorporate a military perspective too, as the military shares the skies. Civil-military interoperability is therefore assuming an even more critical role in the design of the ATM architecture. Technology will have to enable the more efficient use of shared airspace for civil and military stakeholders.
System-wide information management (SWIM) is one of the products that Leonardo is working on for this purpose, but it is also proposing effective solutions that leverage its deep knowledge of the military domain, not only in terms of systems and technologies but also in operational requirements.
Indeed, it is Leonardo’s broad range of capabilities that will drive interoperability and lead to solutions that benefits all parties.
Enhancing digitalisation and sustainability
Technology is also essential to support environmental challenges. Sustainability is not an abstract concept but a measurable goal. Leonardo is investing in the digitalisation of its products and the design of new solutions that will need less energy and fewer resources to perform more complicated tasks. It is also working to find solutions for the smart disposal of devices at their end of life.
The drive towards full digitalisation does, however, lead to higher risks in system vulnerability. Cybersecurity should not be built on top of systems but rather be an inherent characteristic of digital products. To achieve this goal, Leonardo follows a secure-by-design approach for all its products.
The technological challenges
Technology is the crucial pillar that will enable the industry to reach these goals. New challenges require fresh solutions and the ability to innovate.
Leonardo has innovation in its DNA and invests about €2 billion annually in research and development on a global basis, making Leonardo a key technological player on the world stage.
The company has been supporting the radical changes in ATM for decades. One example is Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). New aircraft systems and drones need to be accommodated and managed. The existing ATM architecture must evolve to integrate these new entrants and tailor new solutions for their control and surveillance.
Fortunately, the evolution of various technologies allows us to develop fit-for-purpose solutions that were not possible a few years ago. Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, has become ubiquitous. AI has been around for decades, but what is new today is the massive computing power that allows us to perform complex calculations at high speed and so exploit AI-based solutions.
For more information please contact Leonardo: leonardo.com
Air traffic management (ATM) is constantly evolving, but what we are facing today is the conjunction of several changes at the same time.
Technological innovations and the evolution of ATM systems are at the forefront of this transformation, but the challenges are new compared with those of years ago. It is not so much about the growth of traffic as the resilience to sudden traffic changes – as we have seen in the current international crisis and during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, sustainability has become a global challenge that deserves a global solution, and every organisation must play its part. Only if we find the right solutions to this challenge, will we be able to deliver to the next generation an environment that is better than the one we currently have.
Civil-military interoperability
The increasing complexity of the digitalisation-cybersecurity scenario must incorporate a military perspective too, as the military shares the skies. Civil-military interoperability is therefore assuming an even more critical role in the design of the ATM architecture. Technology will have to enable the more efficient use of shared airspace for civil and military stakeholders.
System-wide information management (SWIM) is one of the products that Leonardo is working on for this purpose, but it is also proposing effective solutions that leverage its deep knowledge of the military domain, not only in terms of systems and technologies but also in operational requirements.
Indeed, it is Leonardo’s broad range of capabilities that will drive interoperability and lead to solutions that benefits all parties.
Enhancing digitalisation and sustainability
Technology is also essential to support environmental challenges. Sustainability is not an abstract concept but a measurable goal. Leonardo is investing in the digitalisation of its products and the design of new solutions that will need less energy and fewer resources to perform more complicated tasks. It is also working to find solutions for the smart disposal of devices at their end of life.
The drive towards full digitalisation does, however, lead to higher risks in system vulnerability. Cybersecurity should not be built on top of systems but rather be an inherent characteristic of digital products. To achieve this goal, Leonardo follows a secure-by-design approach for all its products.
The road to the future
Although investment in technology is obviously crucial, it is equally vital to invest in people.
Leonardo is making huge efforts to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines and guide younger generations towards relevant professional paths. We must remember that ecological and environmental sustainability are based on social sustainability. Diversity and inclusion have contributed to building Leonardo’s identity, giving shape to a culture of respect that protects the wellbeing of its people.
ATM is also benefitting from this approach and, by channelling our efforts and passion, it is possible to imagine today the ATM of tomorrow.
The technological challenges
Technology is the crucial pillar that will enable the industry to reach these goals. New challenges require fresh solutions and the ability to innovate.
Leonardo has innovation in its DNA and invests about €2 billion annually in research and development on a global basis, making Leonardo a key technological player on the world stage.
The company has been supporting the radical changes in ATM for decades. One example is Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). New aircraft systems and drones need to be accommodated and managed. The existing ATM architecture must evolve to integrate these new entrants and tailor new solutions for their control and surveillance.
Fortunately, the evolution of various technologies allows us to develop fit-for-purpose solutions that were not possible a few years ago. Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, has become ubiquitous. AI has been around for decades, but what is new today is the massive computing power that allows us to perform complex calculations at high speed and so exploit AI-based solutions.
Maria Iole Gentile, SVP Land and Sea Business Area – ATM Line of Business, Leonardo, describes the actions necessary to deliver the future of air traffic management.
Air traffic management (ATM) is constantly evolving, but what we are facing today is the conjunction of several changes at the same time.
Technological innovations and the evolution of ATM systems are at the forefront of this transformation, but the challenges are new compared with those of years ago. It is not so much about the growth of traffic as the resilience to sudden traffic changes – as we have seen in the current international crisis and during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, sustainability has become a global challenge that deserves a global solution, and every organisation must play its part. Only if we find the right solutions to this challenge, will we be able to deliver to the next generation an environment that is better than the one we currently have.
SVP Land and Sea Business Area – ATM Line of business - Leonardo
Maria Iole Gentile
For more information please contact Leonardo: leonardo.com
