Air traffic plays a crucial role in ensuring the mobility of people and goods around the globe. Environmental impact, aircraft noise and resistance to disruptions must be balanced with sufficient capacity in the air and on the ground. Decisive steps towards achieving this are efficient air traffic management and the optimisation of airport processes.
The Institute of Flight Guidance is working on the development and application of future processes and technologies for the integrated airborne and ground-based guidance of aircraft. This means using airspace more flexibly and efficiently and enabling airports to optimise throughput, while minimising fuel consumption and environmental impact. To this end, the Institute examines all technical and operational processes on board aircraft and on the ground (air navigation services and airports). Special attention is paid to the changing role of the human operator.
The Institute uses interdisciplinary research teams and an integrated test infrastructure to conduct basic and applied research starting with the idea through to application. The staff regularly cooperate with partners from universities, institutions and industry on German and international research projects. Such partnerships result in comprehensive ways to keep air traffic safe in the future, while also making it more efficient and robust.
DLR at a glance
DLR is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany’s space agency, DLR has been given responsibility by the federal government for the planning and implementation of the German space programme. DLR is also the umbrella organisation for the nation’s largest project management agency.
DLR has approximately 8000 employees at 16 locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Goettingen, Hamburg, Juelich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen, and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.