Indra to implement state-of-the-art technology to enhance efficiency and safety at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Indra is proud to announce a significant contract with the French air navigation service provider, DSNA, for the modernization of the ground surveillance systems at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris. The project aims to enhance the efficiency and safety of air traffic control operations at one of Europe's busiest airports.

As one of few airports in the world where four aircraft can depart or land simultaneously, it is imperative for DSNA’s air traffic controllers to have a precise overview of the complex ground operations. With 70 million passengers in 2024, four parallel runways and three control towers, Charles de Gaulle is also the largest airport required by EU to implement CP1 technology. 

"We are excited to continue our partnership with DSNA and contribute to the modernization of one of Europe's largest airports," said Andrew Fiamingo, Managing Director of Indra in Norway. "This contract underscores our commitment to enhancing air traffic management systems and supporting the aviation industry's growth through safe operations.

Safer and more sustainable airport operations

Indra will implement enhancements to its InNOVA Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), which is used by air traffic controllers to manage ground operations at the airport. This will include the delivery of electronic flight strips integrated into the air traffic control system, allowing for more efficient management of flight data. Flight safety at CDG will be enhanced with safety alerts that automatically detect and alert the controller in case of potential conflicts. The safety alerts include:

• Conformance Monitoring Alerts for Controllers (CMAC), advising air traffic controllers if an aircraft or vehicle deviates from its assigned clearance
• Conflicting ATC Clearances (CATC), alerting the controllers if two or more aircraft or vehicles are given conflicting instructions that may cause their paths to intersect 

Indra will also provide DSNA with routing functionality that will improve the management of the flight paths. Optimised routing is important to improve punctuality and to reduce taxt time and thereby fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. 

These enhancements are part of the broader effort to help Charles de Gaulle Airport comply with the EU's Common Project 1 (CP1) regulation. CP1 mandates that 19 major European airports upgrade their technological infrastructure to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability in air traffic management.

DSNA has used the InNOVA ground surveillance system since 1997. The system is also used at international airports such as Heathrow (UK), Zürich (Switzerland), Incheon (South Korea) and Toronto Pearson (Canada).