Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
A real-time simulation for higher airspace operations #HAO and space transportation ✈️🚀 was recently performed at #EIH the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub 💡 with Italian stakeholders 🇮🇹
👉 In March 2025, the EIH hosted a 5-day real-time simulation, which is a key step in assessing the feasibility of accommodating new A-to-A suborbital operations (taking off and landing at the same place) in European airspace.
The simulation involved:
📌 Civil air traffic controllers from ENAV (the Italian ANSP)
📌 Military controllers from Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force)
📌 Experts from CIRA - Italian Aerospace Research Centre
📌 Representatives from ENAC - Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (the Italian CAA)
The team simulated operational scenarios within a realistic environment that mirrors the Italian airspace surrounding the Grottaglie Spaceport – where future A-to-A suborbital operations are expected to take place.
➡️ Next steps: the validation report to be issued to ENAC and other stakeholders, containing the outcomes, conclusions & recommendations of this first step toward accommodating - and ultimately integrating - these new operations into European airspace.
🤝 The simulation is part of a special agreement between ENAC and EUROCONTROL to explore the accommodation of suborbital transport operations in Italian airspace.
ℹ️ More about our simulation capabilities: https://www.eurocontrol.int/simulations
A real-time simulation for higher airspace operations #HAO and space transportation ✈️🚀 was recently performed at #EIH the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub 💡 with Italian stakeholders 🇮🇹
👉 In March 2025, the EIH hosted a 5-day real-time simulation, which is a key step in assessing the feasibility of accommodating new A-to-A suborbital operations (taking off and landing at the same place) in European airspace.
The simulation involved:
📌 Civil air traffic controllers from ENAV (the Italian ANSP)
📌 Military controllers from Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force)
📌 Experts from CIRA - Italian Aerospace Research Centre
📌 Representatives from ENAC - Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (the Italian CAA)
The team simulated operational scenarios within a realistic environment that mirrors the Italian airspace surrounding the Grottaglie Spaceport – where future A-to-A suborbital operations are expected to take place.
➡️ Next steps: the validation report to be issued to ENAC and other stakeholders, containing the outcomes, conclusions & recommendations of this first step toward accommodating - and ultimately integrating - these new operations into European airspace.
🤝 The simulation is part of a special agreement between ENAC and EUROCONTROL to explore the accommodation of suborbital transport operations in Italian airspace.
ℹ️ More about our simulation capabilities: https://www.eurocontrol.int/simulations
