OneSKY Australia—one step closer

Unifying Australian skies under one air traffic management system has taken another step forward today, with the signing of a contract with Thales Australia for advanced work on software design assurance for Australia’s future air traffic management system.

Airservices Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jason Harfield, said this important step supported design activities for the future system’s software, ensuring safe and reliable delivery of services over its life.

“This is the fourth Advanced Work Order under the agreement signed with Thales to progress the delivery of Australia’s civil-military air traffic system,” Mr Harfield said.

Today’s contract signing is another significant milestone for the OneSKY Australia program that will see Airservices and the Department of Defence deliver Australia’s future harmonised civil-military air traffic control system, the most advanced and integrated air traffic control system in the world.

It follows the announcement at Avalon Airshow in February 2015 that Thales Australia had been chosen to work with Airservices and Defence to develop the new world-leading system and subsequent commencement of initial work orders in July 2015.

“The new system, when completed in 2021, will allow us to provide operational efficiency improvements for future growth and ensure we are meeting the demands of our customers and delivering them value for money,” Mr Harfield said.

The Advanced Work Orders are taking place in parallel with the Acquisition and Support contract negotiations.

The OneSKY program is replacing the separate civil and military systems that are approaching end of life and have been in operation for more than 15 years.

OneSKY will incorporate the latest global air traffic management concepts from Europe and the United States as well as meet the requirements for future air traffic control services under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Block Upgrade program.