Airborne capabilities for supporting reducing ATM environmental footprint

The main goal of this opportunity is to support research and development that reduces the environmental impact of air traffic management (ATM). It focuses on developing airborne capabilities such as wake energy retrieval, energy-based operations, and optimizing flight paths for lower environmental impact. Other priorities include improving geometric altimetry, integrating climate impact into flight planning, and addressing both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions while maintaining operational effectiveness. Projects should contribute to environmentally optimized operations and align with current ATM constraints. The opportunity is open to organizations from countries eligible under the Horizon Europe Programme.

To be admissible, a project must:

• Address the development or improvement of airborne capabilities that reduce the environmental footprint of ATM.
• Focus on one or more of the following: wake energy retrieval, energy-based operations, trajectory optimization, geometric altimetry, or integration of climate impact in flight planning.
• Demonstrate potential for practical application in real-world ATM operations.
• Ensure compliance with operational constraints and safety requirements.
• Align with the thematic priorities of the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking.
• Meet proposal submission requirements, including format and page limits.

Examples:

• Developing a new flight management system that optimizes routes to minimize both CO2 and non-CO2 emissions.
• Testing airborne equipment that enables wake energy retrieval to improve fuel efficiency.
• Creating a tool for pilots to adjust flight paths in real time based on environmental impact forecasts.

• Personnel costs for researchers and technical staff
• Costs for equipment and materials directly used in the project
• Subcontracting costs for specialized services
• Travel and subsistence costs for project activities
• Costs for data collection, analysis, and modeling
• Software development and licensing fees
• Costs for testing and demonstration activities
• Dissemination and communication expenses
• Project management and coordination costs

Eligible costs are covered as a lump sum. Specific restrictions or exclusions may apply according to Horizon Europe rules.

• Co-financing rate: 70% for all beneficiaries
• Budget for this Call: 30,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Maximum value per project: 6,000,000€
• Minimum value per project: 3,000,000€

• Applicants must be established in a country eligible under the Horizon Europe Programme
• Organizations from some non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate if specific provisions allow
• Proposals must comply with format, page limits, and layout requirements as specified in the application instructions
• Applicants must meet all admissibility conditions as outlined in the call documentation
• Projects should align with the thematic priorities set by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
• Applicants must be able to share results with other grants under the same call as required
• Partnerships or consortia may be required, depending on call details