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A futuristic control room with multiple screens displaying a global map with flight paths and data. Several people in uniforms are working at computer stations.

A futuristic control room with multiple screens displaying a global map with flight paths and data. Several people in uniforms are working at computer stations.

Last week, the FAA released the Higher Airspace Traffic Management (HATM) Concept of Operations v2.0, an important step in structuring operations above conventional controlled airspace (formerly Upper Class E Traffic Management, ETM). Almost in parallel, at the opening of the 63rd session of the COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, UNOOSA and ICAO launched the first formal international mechanism to coordinate aviation and space operations in international airspace. In Europe, EUROCONTROL’s ECHO2 project is addressing the same challenge from an operational perspective, focusing on how launches, re-entries, and high-altitude operations can be safely integrated into existing ATM systems, including cross-border coordination and dynamic airspace management. Taken together, these initiatives reflect growing convergence across FAA, ICAO/UNOOSA, and EUROCONTROL toward safer, more efficient management of the increasing volume of space operations — enabled by better communication, hazard notification, and real-time coordination. Incremental, yes — but foundational. This is how we move toward a future where air and space activities are seamlessly integrated. Mehr sehen