Honeywell and SESAR: Shaping the Future of European Airspace

Piloting the Next Chapter in EU Autonomy

As urban air mobility (UAM) and autonomous systems become a reality, Europe is preparing its airspace to safely integrate these technologies at scale. At the center of that effort is SESAR, the Single European Sky ATM (air traffic management) Research initiative, backed by Honeywell’s cutting-edge work in autonomy and integration.

 “We bring validated prototypes into real representative environments—that’s what our research is designed to lead toward,” says Jolana Dvorska, Honeywell Senior Research and Development Manager.

Today, Honeywell leads two major SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking projects: OperA and DARWIN. Each one is an integral thread in the autonomy framework. 

Seamless Skies

Project OperA (Operate Anywhere) is focused on integrating advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft into European air traffic management systems. That includes both crewed air taxis and unmanned cargo vehicles operating across borders.

For uncrewed vehicles, Honeywell is developing ground control stations designed to supervise one-to-many operations. For crewed advanced air mobility aircraft, the focus shifts to autonomy decision engines that support pilot decision-making, flight optimization and navigation. 

As Dvorska puts it, “we’re looking at the autonomy decision engine that helps drive the decisions for the pilot and then again the flight optimizations ... and navigation for approaching and autoland.”

Honeywell is also working with partners like Vertical Aerospace and Pipistrel to test real-world use cases, including:

• Detect-and-avoid systems
• High-integrity precision navigation
• Efficient routing and energy management
• Landing at vertiports near large hubs or atop buildings

The Rise of the Digital Copilot

The DARWIN project (Digital Assistants for Reducing Workload and Increasing Collaboration) is developing AI-powered tools that support pilots in real-time. These systems act as digital copilots that help manage workload without compromising safety.

“The focus really is on automation of the flight deck and supporting of the pilot workload,” says Dvorska.

The work is proving that AI can take over deterministic decisions, where the correct action is clear and so pilots can focus on higher-level thinking and collaborative flight planning.

DARWIN includes capabilities such as:

• AI copilots that respond to aircraft status indicators
• Predictive alerts and automation of routine checklists
• Pilot-state monitoring using visual engagement data

It’s a step-by-step process that builds trust in AI’s ability to assist and eventually enable simplified vehicle operations (SVOs). 

Built in Partnership, Built for Progress

Dvorska explains with the partnership of SESAR since 2008, Honeywell has established itself as a trusted, knowledgeable partner who knows how to do the research and bring it to life.

Both OperA and DARWIN are being developed in close coordination with EASA, OEM partners, cities and the wider SESAR community. Honeywell’s strength lies in its ability to integrate complex systems across domains. 

Rather than focusing on one component, Honeywell understands how these systems interact and how to combine them into solutions that are both resilient and scalable.

A Legacy That Looks Forward

As Europe looks ahead to a more automated airspace, projects like OperA and DARWIN are laying the groundwork. The goal is not to replace pilots, but to empower them and make European skies safer, more efficient and future-ready.