Intensive Data Collection for AWARE Project Underway in Zagreb

Tern Systems and our partners from the AWARE project, Zurich Univeristy of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and University of Zagreb Faculty of Transportation and Traffic Serivices (FTTS), have successfully launched an intensive data collection campaign in Zagreb. The AWARE project is an exploratory research initiative within the SESAR Joint Undertaking, a partnership tasked with modernizing air traffic management in Europe. This critical milestone will provide the essential data needed to train the project’s artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.

Our team installed and configured Polaris ATM and Orion Simulator, setting up realistic traffic scenarios for ATC. These systems are central to the AWARE project's goal of developing an AI assistant to help ATCOs enhance their performance and manage workload more effectively. ZHAW contributed key technology for capturing physiological and eye-tracking data, while our hosts, FTTS, provided the facilities and managed the crucial task of data collection.

This effort is led by a dedicated team of Ukrainian ATCOs who are participating in the simulation as ATCOs, pseudo-pilots, and feeders. Their commitment and expertise are vital to the project's success.

The first week focused on setting up the systems and training the FTTS team, with initial data already collected. From then on, six ATCOs will join the campaign each week, with one ATCO remaining on-site as a subject matter expert to ensure consistency and guidance.

We extend a special thank you to all the partners and the Ukrainian ATCOs for their hard work and dedication. We are excited to continue this important work as we advance the future of air traffic management.

Tern System successfully completes Site Acceptance Test as part of the delivery of the Polaris ATM system to HungaroControl

Tern Systems and HungaroControl have successfully signed the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) Certificate, a major milestone in delivering the Polaris ATM backup system to HungaroControl. The SAT was conducted this summer and confirmed that the Polaris ATM system is performing in accordance with the initial system and design requirements. This successful test is a testament to the system's readiness for planned operational  implementation early next year. The Hungarian configuration includes at least 6 separate instances and over 160 workstations. All servers and backend services in the system are dual redundant. 

The Site Acceptance Tests were executed in June  at two separate platforms at HungaroControl.   Tern’s  experienced deployment team with staff from the Icelandic HQ  and our Hungarian office combined conducted the testing with the project team from HungaroControl for two weeks consecutively.  The tests envelope were extended with a set of successful cybersecurity oriented penetration tests.

Since 2020, HungaroControl has been a key ATM development partner of Tern Systems, joining Isavia ANS, which has collaborated with Tern Systems since 1997. This close partnership with experts at both HungaroControl and Isavia ANS has enabled Tern Systems to deliver a competitive backup system that is modern, secure, and highly adaptable to the evolving needs of air navigation.

Polaris ATM is a new Air Traffic Management System from Tern Systems built upon three decades of industry experience. Polaris ATM offers a highly configurable user interface and advanced functionalities that enable users to manage complex operations with ease, enhancing operational performance, safety, and decision-making in high-pressure environments. Polaris ATM is designed to meet the demands of increasing air traffic in the future.

HungaroControl provides air navigation services in both Hungarian airspace and as part of a NATO assignment, the upper airspace over Kosovo. In recent years, the company has been making ground-breaking efforts in leading and supporting innovation to improve flight safety, increase capacity, reduce airline costs, and enhance environmental protection. “Our collaboration with Tern Systems on the Polaris ATM system, which began in 2020, has been marked by innovation and steady progress. The successful Site Acceptance Test is a testament to our shared vision and confidence that Polaris ATM will meet our operational requirements, once operational early next year. We look forward to continuing to advance the capabilities of the Polaris ATM system in partnership with Tern Systems,” Gábor Szabó, ATM System Development Engineer Expert at Hungaro Control.

Tern Systems designs and builds Air Traffic Management (ATM) software solutions, with three decades of deliveries to customers across Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa. Tern Systems is an established provider of Air Traffic Control solutions with headquarters in Iceland and offices in Hungary and Poland.

“At Tern Systems, we greatly value our partnerships with both HungaroControl and Isavia ANS. These collaborations have been instrumental in refining the Polaris ATM system to meet the unique demands of tactical environments, where high traffic density converges within constrained airspace. The success of the Site Acceptance Test further validates Polaris ATM and its capability to serve even the most demanding Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). Looking ahead, we are excited about the future development of Polaris ATM, as we continue to work closely with HungaroControl and expand our partnership with Isavia ANS to enhance the system's capabilities and reach,” says Magnus Thordarson, CEO of Tern Systems.

Key ENSURE Project Events in Iceland

In collaboration with HungaroControl and Unifly, we recently hosted a series of important events in Iceland for the ENSURE SESAR 3 project, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative focused on defining a common and standardized interface for information exchange between U-space and Air Traffic Management (ATM). The three-day agenda included crucial validation exercises, a project management board meeting, and an open day showcasing early results.

Day 1: TRL 4 Validations – Advancing ATM-U-space Integration

The week commenced with TRL 4 validations, conducted at our facilities using our Polaris ATM system and Orion Simulator, as well as Unifly's UTM system.

These validations focused on three critical use cases:

• UC1: Aircraft in Emergency

• UC2: C2 Link Lost – UAS in Emergency within CTR (Controlled Traffic Region)

• UC3: UAS in Emergency within Airport

These exercises aimed to validate a standardized data model, architecture, and operational methodology for integrating drones and other new entrant aircraft into controlled airspace. The validation activities were a collaborative effort with partners Unifly and HungaroControl – Hungarian Air Navigation Services, involving their Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) alongside Human Factors and Safety Experts. The focus was on enhancing safety, automation, and digital transformation in air traffic management.

Day 2: 7th ENSURE Project Management Board Meeting

Tern Systems had the pleasure of hosting the 7th ENSURE Project Management Board (PMB) meeting at its headquarters. This pivotal meeting brought together project partners to discuss project progress, open tasks and plan for upcoming project milestones. The PMB is crucial for steering the project's direction and ensuring alignment among all collaborators.

Day 3: Open Day – Showcasing Early Results and Future Capabilities

The week concluded with the first ENSURE Open Day in Iceland, co-hosted with our exercise partners HungaroControl and Unifly. The event provided an opportunity to present early results from Solution 1 – Exercise 3 TRL 4 validations of the ATM-U-space interface, which had taken place on the first day.

The presented interface allows UAS operators to operate within controlled airspace with systematic communication with ATM, reducing or even alleviating the need for communication via phone or email between the UAS operator, ATC tower, and other actors. It also enhances situational awareness by providing ATM with UAS positions and UAS operators with aircraft positions. Early results indicate the solution maintains safe operational levels and delivers relevant information to ATCOs.

Guests at the open day had the opportunity to learn about the project's findings through presentations and discussions with experts. They also experienced firsthand the functionalities being developed within the ENSURE project, which have been integrated into Polaris ATM system and Unifly's UTM system

We extend our gratitude to all ENSURE project members who attended the events, and to Isavia ANS for providing facilities and guided tours of their control center, further enriching the experience. The development of this solution will continue, with more mature validations planned for later this year, as the ENSURE project continues to push the boundaries of U-space operations in manned airspace.