Seamless Skies?

Australia’s aviation system is entering a new phase of growth. Airports are building capacity to accommodate rising passenger and freight volumes, while airspace managers, airlines, regulators, technology providers and government agencies face increasing pressure to deliver safer, more efficient and more resilient operations.

At the same time, the airspace itself is changing. Digital towers, next-generation air traffic management, space-based surveillance, drone traffic management, advanced air mobility, cyber-resilient infrastructure and regional interoperability are no longer future concepts. They are becoming operational realities.

This panel will explore what it really takes to create “seamless skies” in practice. Is integration about putting every user into one shared system, or designing layered, interoperable systems that allow different users to operate safely and efficiently? How do we balance capacity growth, safety, cost, workforce capability, public trust and national interest? And what role can Australia play in shaping a more coordinated Asia-Pacific airspace environment?

Presented by UNSW Aviation and UNSW Canberra as part of the UNSW Aviation Industry Panel Discussion Series, this panel brings together leaders in air traffic management, satellite surveillance, border protection, airline operations, airport systems, defence-relevant capability and aviation technology, the discussion will examine how Australia can modernise its skies without compromising the safety, resilience and trust on which aviation depends.