Exclusive interview with Youzec Kurp, Vice-President, Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales
The three ANSPs already use TopSky. What will change for them with the creation of the SkyBridge Alliance? Will HMIs and working methods be unified or remain distinct?
Through the SkyBridge Alliance, the three ANSPs are taking their long-standing cooperation to a new level. By pooling investments across a global customer base, they benefit from shared product development, modern engineering practices such as automated testing and continuous delivery, and reduced lifecycle costs secured through predictable operational fees.
Each ANSP will retain its operational specificities and layouts, but the underlying technical core and development roadmap are now shared. This collective roadmap, from long-term vision to short-term implementation, ensures alignment around common priorities and faster integration of innovations. In short, while daily operations remain locally tailored, the technology evolves globally, within a dynamic worldwide community of TopSky – ATC users.
The announcement mentions that the SkyBridge Alliance has selected an upgrade to Thales’ TopSky – ATC solution. What’s new after the update, and will all three ANSPs receive the same solution?
All three members will move to the same ATC system, a shared product baseline that’s configured to respect local needs, for example, multi-FIR operations in the FINEST project. The upgrade introduces a next-generation software foundation that is compliant with the European CP1 regulation and designed for scalability and future evolution.
By joining the TopSky – ATC Partners group, SkyBridge will also benefit from added synergies in system evolution, joint validation, and innovation sharing across the wider user community.
The announcement says the alliance will achieve “substantial cost efficiencies and operational synergies.” Could you give examples? Will this affect flexibility?
Cost efficiency will come from deepening collaboration on activities traditionally managed by each ANSP separately. Under the alliance, documentation, training, operational procedures, project management, reviews, and acceptance processes will increasingly be shared or jointly managed.
Far from reducing flexibility, this model enhances it: common frameworks free each ANSP to focus more on operational excellence, while maintaining the ability to adapt configurations or workflows to national or regional needs.
What’s particular about the long-term maintenance agreement?
Our TopSky – ATC business model is built on a subscription approach that ensures both corrective and evolutive maintenance over time. This provides business continuity, predictable budgeting, and a clear view of future technology investments. It guarantees continuous system evolution in sync with the global TopSky – ATC community while maintaining long-term stability and performance.
Finland and Estonia share a border. Will the alliance change coordination across their FIRs, potentially enabling “silent coordination” or virtual centre operations?
The multi-FIR capability will be a cornerstone of the FINEST Virtual Centre concept linking the Finland and Estonia FIRs. It allows seamless coordination of flight plans, transfers, and datalink management, not just between the two countries but also with adjacent FIRs. The result is smoother cross-border operations and improved situational awareness for controllers.
The release mentions “cutting-edge controller tools and a latest-generation, open, safe, and secure software architecture.” What does that mean in practice?
The new TopSky – ATC integrates the latest controller HMI technologies, drawing on the operational experience of more than 40 global customers. Among the advanced tools is Thales’ Digital Air Traffic Control Assistant, which includes decision-support and conflict-resolution features to enhance ATCO efficiency.
On the architecture side, the OpenSky Platform brings a cloud-ready, secure, and modular environment designed to host third-party applications. This openness is a foundation for the new service delivery model, enabling faster integration of innovations and more collaborative development across the ATC ecosystem.
Will this alliance improve ATCO mobility within the three participating ANSPs?
Yes, particularly between Finland and Estonia. Shared operational procedures, training programs, and maintenance and supervision frameworks will make it easier for controllers and technical staff to work across borders within the alliance’s shared environment.
There are now two alliances in Europe around TopSky: SkyBridge and COOPANS. What are the commonalities and differences from Thales’ perspective? Do you foresee future convergence or expansion?
SkyBridge is still a young alliance, currently establishing its governance model. Like COOPANS, it builds on closer cooperation and shared innovation, bringing members greater representation in European and international forums and the capacity to launch joint R&D programs.
Both share the same spirit of collaboration and modernisation, though each evolves at its own pace according to its members’ operational goals and maturity. It’s too early to speculate on potential convergence, but the TopSky – ATC Partner group as a whole continues to foster stronger ties among its members worldwide.
