Open data in the aviation sector: Flying towards a greener horizon
As air travel grows and environmental targets tighten, Europe’s
aviation sector is meeting new challenges and expectations. From
modernising traffic management to reducing emissions, open data is
playing an increasingly central role in shaping a safer, greener, and
more efficient future for European skies.

Data4Safety
[https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/safety-management/data4safety]
(D4S), led by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency
[https://www.easa.europa.eu/en], is a collaborative initiative that
aims to identify systemic risks at EU level as well as their
mitigations. By aggregating datasets from airlines, national
authorities, and air traffic service providers, D4S enables predictive
safety analytics. These insights help identify emerging risks before
they escalate, enhancing safety across the continent’s airspace.
Another example is the NEEDED [https://www.needed-project.eu/]
research project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme
[https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/horizon-europe_en],
which is tackling the environmental impact of aviation. Using
real-time flight data from ADS-B systems and local airport
measurements, the project aims to develop accurate models for noise
and emissions [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101095754]. This
data-driven approach supports the design of quieter, cleaner
operations around urban airports, contributing to the sustainable
transport plans
[https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/sustainable-transport_en]
of the Commission.

As these initiatives demonstrate, open data is key to making aviation
smarter and safer. It gives access to useful information like flight
paths, weather conditions, safety reports, traffic patterns and fuel
use. This helps airports run more smoothly, researchers build better
tools, and policymakers make informed decisions. Open data helps
airports, researchers, and policymakers understand problems, improve
systems, and create new solutions.

Are you interested in how data can make flying safer and more
sustainable? Explore aviation-related datasets on data.europa.eu
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets?locale=en&minScoring=0&query=aviation&page=1]
to learn more about how Europe is transforming the skies with data.

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Publication Date/Time
2025-05-26T08:00:00+00:00
How Europe is using data to drive safety, sustainability, and
innovation in aviation