EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN ROLE SUPPORTED BY AUTOMATIONcore
EHRA · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-09-01–2029-02-28
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-ER-03 · scheme HORIZON-JU-RIA · topic HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-ER-03-WA2-1. CORDIS record →
Objective
The evolution toward highly automated Air Traffic Management systems, central to the Digital European Sky vision, presents regulatory, operational, and human-factors challenges that current frameworks cannot adequately address. Critical gaps include the unpredictability of automation behavior, regulatory uncertainty for Levels 3–4 autonomy, weak integration of military aviation needs, and the absence of standardized human performance and safety metrics. These deficiencies risk eroding operator trust, weakening safety assurance, and creating legal ambiguity—ultimately jeopardizing the safe and acceptable deployment of higher automation.The EHRA project aims to deliver a validated, regulator-ready methodology for assessing the human–automation interface in both civil and military ATM contexts. By combining regulatory and interoperability analysis with model-based, simulation-validated use-case experimentation, EHRA will provide a robust evidence base to support higher levels of automation. The methodology will systematically integrate legal, operational, human factors, and technical perspectives to: (i) identify regulatory enablers and gaps in areas such as liability, licensing, certification, and insurance; (ii) quantify the effects of advanced automation on vigilance, fatigue, workload, situational awareness, and cognitive skills; and (iii) develop hazard identification and mitigation strategies for supervisory human–machine teaming roles. The ambition is to establish a repeatable, multidisciplinary framework that bridges research and regulation, enables evidence-based decision-making, ensures civil–military interoperability, and prepares regulation for both deterministic and AI-based automation technologies. By providing actionable insights, standardized validation methods, and regulatory recommendations, EHRA will directly contribute to harmonised European airspace integration and the safe, efficient, and human-centric introduction of advanced ATM automation.
Beneficiaries (8)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV | DE | coordinator | €315,697 | |
| LUNDS UNIVERSITET | SE | participant | €333,812 | |
| CESKE VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V PRAZE | CZ | participant | €332,925 | |
| LUFTFARTSVERKET | SE | participant | €242,333 | |
| UNIVERSITAT DE LES ILLES BALEARS | ES | participant | €210,500 | |
| AGENTFLY TECHNOLOGIES SRO | CZ | participant | €210,000 | Yes |
| INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATIONS | CA | participant | €196,531 | |
| RIZENI LETOVEHO PROVOZU CESKE REPUBLIKY STATNI PODNIK | CZ | participant | €158,000 |
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