IS EUROPEAN RESEARCH ON THE RIGHT TRACK TOWARDS FLIGHPATH 2050?
The OPTICS2 Final Dissemination Event has taken place, remotely, on the 27-28th of September 2021. The focus has been on the results of the project, which is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), a follow-up of the OPTICS project dealing with research in aviation safety and security.
In particular, the event meant to answer the question, “Is European research on the right track towards Flightpath 2050?“. Flightpath 2050 is the vision for aviation safety and security delivered by the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe (ACARE). The final goal of OPTICS2 has been to provide recommendations to steer EU Aviation Safety and Security research.
OPTICS2: STATE-OF-THE-ART AND INTERACTIVE NARRATIVES
The project has performed an annual review of the state-of-the-art in European aviation safety and security R&I, involving a core team of experts from across the entire aviation spectrum. They assessed literally hundreds of European and nationally funded projects, including major programmes such as Horizon 2020, CleanSky and SESAR. OPTICS2 has reported to both the European Commission and ACARE, summarising the status of five safety and security ‘Action Areas’.
To know more about the main Action Areas, have a look at the OPTICS2 Interactive Narratives. They deepen the “State-of-the-Art” of the Areas through two main metrics: COVERAGE and MATURITY of projects’ outcomes. They also identify the main performers, gaps, and obstacles in the research landscape, along with strategic recommendations and priorities.
KEY FEATURES OF THE FINAL DISSEMINATION EVENT
First of all, the European Commission opened the event. Then, the project partners presented the main results related to the State-of-the-Art assessment for the ten Action Areas; the coordinators described and analyzed the five most relevant projects for Safety and Security. An open discussion followed, exploring topics related to the Safety Action Areas, such as driving the ATS performance, harnessing safety intelligence, human & organizational factors, safe operations, safe design, manufacturing & certification. On the second day, participants explored the Security Action Areas, talking of ways to engage staff & society, to build and exploit security intelligence, to ensure operational security, and discussing secure design, manufacturing & certification. Finally, the European Commission provided closing remarks.
SHOWCASING RELEVANT SAFETY AND SECURITY PROJECTS
Both Safety and Security were described through various research projects. Day 1 focused on Safety, with the presentations of Safeclouds, SAFEMODE, D(emo)-CRAT and AW-Drones. Day 2 explored the topic of Security instead, hosting SYNAPSE, CONCORDIA, SATIE and ASPRID.
To read more about the results, please visit the OPTICS2 website.