How Thales in Australia Transforms Aviation Safety Through Advanced Air Traffic Management Solutions

Every 24 seconds, a Thales-managed system guides an aircraft safely through the skies, connecting millions of passengers to their destinations worldwide.

Connecting Australia’s Skies to the World

Australia’s vast airspace presents unique challenges that demand sophisticated solutions. Spanning 11 percent of the world’s total airspace, Australia’s aviation infrastructure requires technology that can handle both the complexity of major international hubs and the critical connectivity needs of remote communities. Thales in Australia has risen to meet this challenge through decades of innovation and investment in sovereign capabilities.

Pioneering Sovereign Air Traffic Management

The story of Australia’s air traffic management transformation began in 1994 when Airservices Australia recognised the need for a truly advanced system to manage the nation’s growing aviation demands. The Australian Advanced Air Traffic Control System (TAAATS), delivered by Thales in 1997, marked a turning point in how Australia approached airspace management.

TAAATS represented more than just technological advancement—it established Australia’s sovereign capability in air traffic management. Through continuous enhancement and modernisation, this system has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated air traffic management platforms, adapting to changing technologies and operational requirements while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Building on this foundation of success and expertise, Thales in Australia is now developing the world’s first fully harmonised Civil Military Air Traffic Management System, known as OneSky Australia.

OneSKY: Unifying Australia’s Skies for Defence and Civil Aviation

Thales’s OneSKY project stands as one of Australia’s most ambitious airspace management initiatives, integrating both civilian and military air traffic control under a single advanced system. This collaborative venture with Airservices Australia and the Australian Defence Force aims to deliver seamless, secure coordination across the country’s vast airspace—enhancing efficiency, safety, and national security.

Through cutting-edge digital technologies and real-time data exchange capabilities, OneSKY empowers operators to manage increased traffic volumes, complex operations, and evolving defence requirements. For Australia’s defence forces, it means greater situational awareness, streamlined communication, and robust mission preparation—even in high-pressure environments. As aviation needs evolve, OneSKY is future-ready, ensuring that Australia’s airspace remains safe, resilient, and responsive.

Driving Innovation Through Melbourne’s Centre of Excellence

Melbourne serves as the beating heart of Thales’s air traffic management innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. Thales’ Centre of Excellence for Air Traffic Management develops and exports TopSky systems throughout the region and beyond, reaching markets in Africa and the Middle East. This global reach demonstrates how Australian engineering expertise and innovation can compete successfully on the world stage.

Thales’ investment in Australia’s future extends beyond technology to people and skills development. With over 480 high-tech jobs in Melbourne and a dedicated Australian Graduate program, Thales is  nurturing the next generation of aviation professionals who will drive continued innovation in this dynamic sector.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Aviation Through SKYLAB Innovation

Innovation thrives in environments where creative thinking meets practical application. SKYLAB Australia, inaugurated in Melbourne in March 2011, exemplifies this philosophy through its 400-square-metre state-of-the-art creative workspace dedicated to advancing air traffic management research and development.

As an integral component of Thales’s global innovation network, SKYLAB Australia enhances research collaboration between universities, public research laboratories, and leading industry players. This collaborative approach ensures innovations address real-world challenges while leveraging the best academic and commercial insights available.

The lab’s focus areas span Air Traffic Management, Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management, and Air Traffic Flow Management—critical domains that will define aviation’s future. Through partnerships with innovation labs in Europe, the USA, and Asia, SKYLAB Australia contributes to solutions that make air travel safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.

Delivering Environmental and Operational Excellence

Modern aviation faces the dual challenge of meeting growing demand while reducing environmental impact. Thales in Australia’s connected digital solutions directly address this challenge through technologies designed to transform operational capabilities while reducing fuel usage and CO2 emissions.

Thales’ cyber-secure systems maximise both passenger and operator safety while enhancing situational awareness across all flight phases. From pre-flight planning through landing procedures, integrated gate-to-gate solutions ensure efficient traffic handling, seamless data sharing, and smooth handover operations between territories.

The environmental benefits of efficient air traffic management extend beyond individual flights. By optimising flight paths, reducing delays, and improving operational efficiency, Thales’ systems and solutions contribute to the aviation industry’s broader sustainability goals while maintaining the safety and reliability standards that passengers and operators demand.