Periodic Report Summary - AIRTN (Aeronautics ERA-NET as one of the key enablers of the prosperous development of aeronautics in Europe) The ultimate aim of the AIRTN project was to step up the cooperation and coordination of research activities carried out at a national or regional level in the Member States and Associated States through: - the networking of research activities conducted at national or regional level; and - the mutual opening of national and regional research programmes. To gather information about the national programmes a virtual laboratory and fora were developed, as well as organised workshops and other meetings were held. For the analysis of common strategic issues information was gathered concerning: - global research programmes; - Europe's position in context. To identify pillars for future cooperation, the project sought for gaps, opportunities and thematic priorities. Therefore, it started to identify 'bottom-up' possibilities for common research topics. All these steps were necessary to develop possible joint activities. Furthermore, as a foundation for future transnational research activities the following items were discussed: - analysis and potentially adoption of Group for aeronautical research and technology (GARTEUR) terms of reference; - lessons to be learnt from national programmes; - identification of best practices. Another objective of the project was to expand the European dimension of an aeronautical network, to improve the coherence and coordination of aeronautics and to strengthen and underpin the European aeronautics programme. For this purpose, a network of programme owners and coordinators that interfaced with other European players like the Advisory council for aeronautics research in Europe (ACARE) and the Single European sky ATM research joint undertaking (SESAR) was developed. The project provided a platform to support the ACARE initiative and the implementation and development of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA). Finally, it supported the EU and EUROCONTROL activities for the implementation of 'Single European sky' for a seamless 'Air traffic management' all over Europe. Below there is an overview of the main objectives of the seven Work packages (WPs): - WP1: The objective of WP1 was to cover the overall management and coordination of the network activities. - WP2: The objective of WP2 is the establishment of a virtual laboratory to be used as an electronic communication mean. - WP3: The objective of WP3 was to create the necessary information infrastructure on drivers, goals, structure, thematic priorities, functioning and exploitation of results of aeronautical programmes to support mutual understanding and future cooperative planning of aeronautical Research and technology (R&T) of relevant European countries. - WP4: The objective of WP4 was to develop an overall view of the global competitive civil aeronautical landscape, considering Europe's position in the international framework. - WP5: The objective of WP5 was to collect information on R&T and initiate possible joint actions. - WP6: The objective of WP6 was to organise three thematic fora in order to foster dissemination of publishable project results. - WP7: The objective of WP7 was to establish best practices to improve the aeronautical cooperation at European level and the initiation of possible joint actions. Related documents Periodic Report - AIRTN (Aeronautics ERA-NET as one of the key enablers of the prosperous development of aeronautics in Europe) Other documents Project Sheet - AIRTN (Aeronautics ERA-NET as one of the key enablers of the prosperous development of aeronautics in Europe)
