CATS CONOPS for Future Skies: A Global Roadmap for Seamless Airspace Integration
The aviation industry stands at a critical turning point. With increasing traffic volumes, diverse new airspace users, and mounting environmental expectations, the need for a new, integrated approach to airspace management has never been clearer.
That’s why the CATS Global Council is proud to launch the CATS CONOPS for Future Skies — a strategic vision and operational blueprint designed to guide the transformation of air traffic management (ATM) through to 2045.
What is the CATS CONOPS?
The Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Concept of Operations outlines a step-by-step pathway to a seamless, scalable, and sustainable airspace system. Co-created by stakeholders across all segments of aviation, it provides for the integration of both conventional and emerging operations into a unified airspace framework.
- Phase 1: Airspace and Flight Optimisation through Advanced Digital Information Sharing
- Phase 2: Advanced Automation and Real-Time Performance Management
- Phase 3: Seamless Airspace – A Fully Integrated Aviation Environment
Why It Matters
The CATS CONOPS is more than just a technical document — it’s a collective call to action. It offers the aviation community a clear and coordinated transformative pathway to modernise ATM, ensuring safe and efficient integration of drones, eVTOLs, high-altitude platforms, and future innovations.
A Word from the Chair
“The CATS CONOPS is a landmark industry effort to shape the future of air traffic management in a way that is inclusive, forward-looking, and globally harmonised. It’s not about incremental change — it’s about rethinking how we manage airspace in the decades to come, for both traditional and new entrants.”
— Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO and Chair of the CATS Global Council
Read the CATS CONOPS for Future Skies
Voices from the Industry
“ACI World is focused on helping airports meet the growing demand for capacity, both on the ground and in the air. Improved global air navigation systems and fostering better global alignment on these systems are necessary for the industry to accommodate the growth of travel that is in store for us. CANSO’s CATS CONOPS offers an innovative and comprehensive approach toward an enhanced global airspace navigation solution – a solution developed by experts from major global stakeholders.”
— Justin Erbacci, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI) World
“Not long ago, autonomous flight operations were associated with a distant future. But today, the discussions among a range of industry stakeholders and experts have led to a clear roadmap that places autonomous operations on the visible horizon. There’s also a path for these operations to occur in a highly automated and highly integrated airspace environment. Ultimately, as a company entirely focused on demonstrating and advancing automation in the airspace, Wisk is supportive of this document and looking forward to the impact it will have on the entire AAM ecosystem.”
— Erick Corona, Director of Airspace Operational Integration – Autonomous Flight, Wisk
“In the next two decades, air travel will almost triple in the Asia-Pacific region. The CATS CONOPS outlines a pathway for regions to increase their capacities through transformational operational concepts enabled by investments in technology and information sharing. CAAS is privileged to be a member of the CATS Global Council and to have participated in the development of the CATS CONOPS.”
— Kok Juan Han, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
What’s Next?
The CATS CONOPS will serve as a foundation for future dialogue, regional implementation strategies, and industry innovation. We invite all aviation stakeholders to explore its content and join us in building the skies of tomorrow — safe, connected, automated, and sustainable.