In February 2025, I met with Ronald Dubbeldam, General Manager for Systems and Infrastructure of the Dutch Air Navigation Services Provider (ANSP) LVNL. Ronald joined LVNL in 2006 and held various roles in ATM systems development, as well as in the Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) department. I spoke with him about the current status and the future of ATM and his department. Throughout the interview, I could feel how passionate he is about his work, and also how proud he is of his team.
From waterfall to agile
LVNL operates in a dynamic environment. The continuous changes in aviation, technology, and the digital world create a challenging work environment. Maintenance and development of systems is all about safety and continuity of operations. Every day, around 400 engineers and technicians work on 75 operational systems and applications and an ever-growing number of interdependencies. Keeping everything on track and on time is increasingly challenging. This is why Ronald and his team started a transformation from the traditional “waterfall” approach to an agile way of project delivery. Forty-three scrum teams work in two-week sprints and hold quarterly meetings to share their backlogs and synchronise their progress.
From Ronald’s point of view, this has two advantages: it improves the predictability of deliveries and boosts the team’s motivation. People like to see the results of their work being used by air traffic controllers (ATCOs), even in small steps. With long waterfall projects, it sometimes takes a long time for technical staff to see the results. However, because ANSPs are highly regulated, detailed requirements and test procedures, with coverage matrices linking the two, remain part of the work and certification process.
Testing the new Polaris control room
This agile approach is also used to bring the new control room in the Polaris building to life. In the period 2026-2028, LVNL plans to implement a new air traffic control system from this new operational room. Currently, extensive testing is being conducted to ensure that ATCOs can work with the new system and identify potential problems early. I had the chance to visit it last year, and this new room is equipped with all the necessary operational systems, including fallback and last-resort ATM systems.
At the end of 2024, live air traffic was handled for the first time from the new control room and Ronald and his team are extremely proud of the results so far. Besides the motivational aspect of such test nights— with the excitement of seeing new systems being used —they also facilitate a stepped validation. Testing and identifying issues in 2024 was great and also a risk mitigation – it is better to find and solve issues now than later in the go-live process, which is now planned for the period 2026-2028.
From AAA to iTEC, the next transition
Since 1998, LVNL has used the Amsterdam Advanced ATC (AAA) system, which is developed internally and highly tailored to their operation. But now, LVNL has become a member of the interoperability Through European Collaboration (iTEC) Alliance, a group of ANSPs working together and procuring the same ATM system from Indra.
This means long-term changes for the AAA development team, which will gradually shift from software development to product management. I asked Ronald how he manages this transition, and his answer was straightforward: with transparency and honesty. The future jobs will still require a deep understanding of operations, but this expertise will be used differently: either working with a supplier (Indra), or configuring the software, or managing business rules in iTEC—but not developing it anymore.
Ronald confirmed that if some of his colleagues prefer to remain in software development, there is help for them to grow into another role or position. This transition will take years, with adjustments in roles happening progressively, allowing time to manage the necessary workforce changes.
New recruitment strategies and limited home-office
Finding new technical talent today is tough. “But working in engineering at LVNL is extremely challenging. You work in an environment with high stakes in a 24/7 operation. Because we work in small teams, you can quickly make your mark as a newcomer. What new people also say is that they feel very welcome, that colleagues help each other in sharing knowledge and expertise and they feel a high-level of commitment amongst the colleagues. However, as for all companies who want to attract IT talent, it is difficult to find new people.” Ronald explains: “Like most ANSPs, LVNL is relatively unknown to the general public. When he mentions he works for LVNL, the typical reaction is, “Oh, you work in the tower and are part of Schiphol Airport, right?”.
Besides that: the tools and techniques taught at universities only partially align with those used at LVNL. New graduates are familiar with JavaScript, cloud-based technologies, and virtualisation, whereas LVNL for some systems relies on older programming languages and system environments. On the other hand, he acknowledges that fresh graduates add significant value to the company by bringing in new knowledge and expertise.”
Regarding the balance between on-site and home-office work, Ronald states that certain tasks, like testing of system releases, require on-site presence. LVNL has a policy allowing a maximum of two days per week of home-office work. Personally, Ronald is in the office most days to be available to his colleagues and to encourage face-to-face communication over teleconferencing. He believes that teams thrive when they can interact face-to-face, as it fosters synergy and brings out the best in each individual, especially during stand-up meetings.
LVNL’s technical department now has a full-time, in-house recruiter tasked with finding new talent. The organisation launched its first marketing campaigns aimed at technical talent in 2023.
Changes ahead
LVNL’s CEO, Michiel van Dorst, recently announced that he will leave the company. I asked Ronald what his message would be for the incoming CEO. Once again, his obvious passion for his job was evident: “If you have a passion for aviation, which is a 24/7 safety environment, and if you want to be part of something with a higher goal, you’re in the right place.”
