French innovator to upgrade Philippine’s air traffic control

MANILA, Philippines —  French multinational Thales Group has landed the contract to improve the air traffic management (ATM) of the Philippines, as the country goes for an upgrade to meet flight demand.

Thales recently announced that it has won the project to upgrade the ATM of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), promising to equip the agency with the most advanced and secure solution for handling flights.

“This modernization is not just a technical upgrade – it is an investment in the future of Philippine aviation. By strengthening resilience and embracing the latest digital innovations, CAAP is preparing the country’s airspace for the demands of a rapidly growing region. We are honoured to support this ambition and to deepen our long-standing partnership with the Asia-Pacific region,” said Youzec Kurp, vice president for Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales.

Thales will enhance both the hardware and software infrastructure of CAAP, keeping them up to date with latest patches for managing air traffic.

Further, Thales will integrate new functionalities into CAAP’s air traffic controls, including new cybersecurity features. This ensures that the agency is ready to fend off present and future risks.

Thales will supply CAAP with a disaster recovery system that provides the agency with a first layer of backup protection. The DRS renders CAAP capable of continuing operations in the event that the main system fails.

The enhancements covered in the project will make CAAP compliant with the highest standards on aviation safety, particularly with those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Thales also committed that the project would deliver one of Asia’s most modern and secure ATMs, gearing up CAAP for the future demand on air travel in the Philippines and in the region.

According to Thales, the project would be divided into several phases, with the initial segment focused on raising operational continuity to prevent a repeat of a previous glitch.

Once all phases are completed by 2027, CAAP is expected to operate a state-of-the-art ATM that is aligned with industry standards and international benchmarks. CAAP director general Raul del Rosario said the project would elevate safety and resilience of Philippine aviation.

“This modernization project is a pivotal step in future proofing Philippine aviation. Through our partnership with Thales, we are ensuring that our air traffic management system exceeds international standards, providing greater safety, resilience, and operational continuity. This upgrade will prepare our airspace to handle growing air traffic demands and secure the long-term efficiency of aviation in the Philippines,” Del Rosario said.

In 2023, the Philippines suffered one of its worst aviation issues on New Year’s Day, when CAAP sustained a technical glitch in its ATM. This led to Manila vanishing from international airspace for hours, causing flight disruption for more than 56,000 passengers.

Since then, the government, led by CAAP, has undertaken a series of system upgrades to prevent a repeat of that crisis.

A consortium, headed by Comclark Network and Technology Corp., also pitched an unsolicited proposal worth P31.55 billion to control and upgrade the country’s air navigation services.