A £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) to be built at Cranfield University (www.cranfield.ac.uk) will provide “research facilities unprecedented in Europe”.

It will address challenges such as: the integration of drones into civilian airspace; increasing the efficiency of airports; creating safe shared airspace through secure data communication infrastructures; and increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft through self-sensing technologies.

Game-changing technologies such as a virtual air traffic control tower and next-generation radar will be trialled at the university’s licensed airport.

The funding for DARTeC will be provided by a consortium that includes Thales, Raytheon, SAAB, Monarch Aircraft Engineering, Boeing UK and Aveillant — and by Cranfield University plus the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund.

Professor Graham Braithwaite said: “The Digital Aviation and Research Technology Centre will greatly advance the application of innovative technology in the air transport sector.

“Here at Cranfield, we are shaping the future of airports, aircraft, airspace and airlines through the power of our research capabilities.”