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On the occasion of AERO Friedrichshafen 2024, we are introducing today a new, first-of-a-kind anti-collision solution: the Aero Tracker powered with SafeSky Inside®, a result of our collaboration with AVIONIX Engineering. The best of two worlds. Pilots using the Aero Tracker with SafeSky Inside® will enjoy the benefits of radio transmission combined with SafeSky mobile internet traffic. An absolute first in the anti-collision world and the most complete solution a pilot can get today. Concretely, it offers pilots: Radio and SafeSky combined for enhanced safety Real-time traffic alerts during flights for a wide range of aircraft, including general aviation, gliders, paramotors, paragliders, and even some drones. In essence, it's simple, convenient, portable and self-powered plug & play. Receive or transmit? Choose no longer. Interested? We are putting the finishing touches on the development of the Aero Tracker with SafeSky Inside®. As soon as it goes into production, we will make an announcement on our website and via our newsletter. Don’t miss out as on top of it, it will come with a very competitive price! The Aero Tracker with SafeSky Inside® completes SafeSky’s anti-collision ecosystem, offering 4 solutions tailored to different pilot needs: SafeSky App Designed for pilots who want to share their position and receive alerts by simply using their phone or tablet. The brand-new Version 3 offers unique PREMIUM features like the SmartRadar, real-time weather updates, ... Aero Tracker with SafeSky Inside® Combining SafeSky traffic from over 30 sources with radio transmission, it’s ideal for pilots who value comprehensive visibility and the automatic activation of SafeSky. Third-party integrations 15+ native integrations and traffic exchanges across all pilot categories, including free flight and drones, catering to pilots who appreciate confort. Ground station powered by SafeSky For clubs, federations, and pilots keen on contributing to broader safety efforts. Tristan FILY, CEO SafeSky: “We always said we didn’t want to leave anyone behind in air safety. We started with integrating maximal air traffic into the SafeSky traffic. Today, we take another step forward by offering a variety of solutions to meet diverse pilot needs. To do so, we partner with leading eConspicuity device manufacturers to revolutionise their technology by integrating SafeSky. We thank AVIONIX Engineering for their partnership and contribution to this transformation in air safety.” 💡 Similar co-developments are to be expected in the near future. Stay tuned!

The countdown to AERO Friedrichshafen 2024 has begun! We promised you some surprises and electrifying updates, today's the day you get to peek behind the curtain. Take a look.

With your input and ideas, we have worked hard to add an extra dimension to your flying and safety experience. Discover the 5 PREMIUM features you will no longer be able to fly without. 1. The SmartRadar. "Smart" because this new version offers you an advanced safety experience. Considering aircraft convergence and speed, this SmartRadar will display alerts when it matters most for you. Moreover, we've added a new way to represent traffic, in line with what professional anti-collision systems offer today. 2. Manage nearby aircraft alerts. Flying with fellow pilots? Muting alerts from nearby aircraft has become very simple. In-flight, this easily accessible menu will take you to a dedicated section listing the surrounding traffic. By simply clicking on a specific aircraft - or all listed aircraft as a whole - you can deactivate the alerts. This straightforward solution enhances the quality of flights in squadron. Of course, you can reactivate alerts for all at any time. 3. Weather ahead! Weather is a crucial element for the safety of your flights, and having weather "ahead" during your flights is a major advancement of SafeSky. Based on your position and route, SafeSky informs you of the nearest METARs throughout your flight. This weather information has been simplified to quickly provide you with the essential information you need. 4. Map and AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication). Many of you have asked for it, and we've listened. To provide context about surrounding aircraft and their flight intentions, we have added a light AIP layer to our map view, displaying additional information such as CTR/TMA, etc. These data naturally enhance your situational awareness with relevant aeronautical context. 5. Enhanced interface. What's not changing: our free traffic! Our traffic information is and always will be free. Whether you're on a free or PREMIUM subscription, you'll have access to the same extensive traffic information. With data sourced from 20+ channels and our 65,000-strong community, it's the most comprehensive anti-collision solution for all pilots. 🔎 Read more. An opportunity not to miss! You are all PREMIUM. At the occasion of the Version 3 launch, your free plan will be upgraded to PREMIUM for 1 month for free. What do yo need to do? Simply download the latest version on your app store, and the magic will happen automatically. Discover this new experience now! We want to thank our fantastic community of beta testers for putting this new version to the test over the last few months. Without your input and feedback, the result would not have been the same. We understand that every new product requires some fine-tuning, and who better to judge than you, our pilots. So, what do you think about our new version?

Spring is in the air, and so are you! Our SafeSky statistics are peaking. And the best is yet to come: after taking flight, let's meet on solid ground at AERO, where we can do what we love most: meeting you. Will you be there?

Our mission to create a safer sky together, gains new significance as we collaborate with the Norwegian Police Air Support Unit to enhance their Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations. Our technology serves as electronic conspicuity data hub, improving security and efficiency in search and rescue operations involving both manned and unmanned aircraft. Context. In Norway's challenging landscapes, drones play a crucial role in providing aerial insights for locating and rescuing individuals in distress. In 2023, the Norwegian Police successfully saved 50 lives thanks to the use of drones. SafeSky integration. The SafeSky implementation addresses two critical needs: UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) pilots in the field will receive real-time alerts about nearby air traffic, including low-flying aircraft such as helicopters, paramotors, paragliders, ultralights, and general aviation. SafeSky pilots will receive live drone traffic data, including position and velocity, providing situational awareness of unmanned aircraft. Besides the use of SafeSky, the Norwegian Police Air Support Unit is exploring the permanent installation of Avionix openAir ground stations, both at fixed locations and in portable formats on drone patrol vehicles. These devices would feed traffic data back into the SafeSky technology, improving traffic information for everyone. Tristan FILY, SafeSky’s CEO: "The drone world is currently paradoxical. Remote pilots are legally obligated to spot other traffic but often lack the systems to do so. Our collaboration with the Norwegian Police aims to rectify this, making drone operations safer and coexistence with other sky users more harmonious. We would like to thank the Norwegian Police Air Support Unit, for their trust and joining us in our ambition to create a safer sky together."

We are pleased to announce that ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH, pioneers of air rescue in Germany, partners with SafeSky to enhance air safety standards. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and security of aerial operations across Germany. Context and challenges. Navigating complex airspaces. With over 50 rescue helicopters stationed across 38 locations, ADAC Luftrettung operates at the forefront of air rescue in Europe, conducting more than 50,000 missions annually. Operating at low altitudes throughout the country – traversing a wide variety of landscapes including mountains – pilots encounter a multitude of aircraft, ranging from gliders and paramotors to the increasingly prevalent drones. Limitations of existing air traffic detection systems. Traditional online air traffic services often fail to adequately display low-flying air traffic, increasing the risk of mid-air collisions. Existing certified anti-collision systems, such as ADS-B and FLARM, are effective in certain scenarios but often fall short due to interoperability issues or equipment limitations. Additionally, Flight Information Services have limitations in detecting traffic below 1000 feet, especially in mountainous regions, which concerns ADAC Luftrettung Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) flight operations. Creation of ADAC Luftrettung Collision Avoidance Task Force. To address these challenges, ADAC Luftrettung established the Collision Avoidance Task Force, led by Dr. Philip Edelmann, Flight Operations Executive and Pilot. This task force is committed to pioneering innovative solutions and has evaluated tablet-based systems alongside certified anti-collision devices. SafeSky's technology emerged as the most suitable solution due to its comprehensive coverage of air traffic and seamless integration into ADAC's operations. To evaluate its real-life effectiveness, a three-month evaluation period will now be initiated. Benefits for ADAC Luftrettung’s pilots? ADAC Luftrettung's helicopter pilots will benefit from SafeSky's comprehensive in-flight traffic information, covering various aircraft categories, including general aviation, commercial and civil helicopters, ultralights, hang-gliders, para-gliders/motors, military planes, balloons, and drones. SafeSky traffic overlay in ADAC's navigation app. " SafeSky is honored to collaborate with ADAC Luftrettung in their mission to enhance air safety and save lives. Every second counts in emergency medical care and rescue services, and safety in flight operations is critical. SafeSky allows HEMS operators to save lives safely. After successful partnerships in citizen-critical operations in other parts of Europe, this marks SafeSky’s first yet highly significant partnership in Germany. We hope it sets an example for improved flight safety in emergency medical services throughout Europe and beyond. " Tristan Fily, CEO SafeSky For further inquiries or information, please contact ADAC Luftrettung.

Recently, we announced the establishment of a vast network of ground stations across Europe to improve airspace coverage and therefore air safety. France is one of the countries actively participating in this initiative. Today, let's take a closer look at the ground station installation at the Atlantic Air Park (LF8523). This installation is in fact the story of a SafeSky ambassador: Benoît MATHIEU, a 3-axis ULM pilot, who has been following and using SafeSky since its very beginning. He is part of our beta tester group. Benoît MATHIEU: "I've found the perfect air safety set-up for my flights: my eyes, the FIS, my TCAS, and ... SafeSky." As co-owner of Village LF8523, he takes aviation safety very seriously. The Village is located near the Atlantic Coast, a popular destination of many pilots to admire the splendid landscapes or visit the numerous aviation fields. However, this popularity results in dense air traffic, prompting Benoît to raise awareness among other co-owners. No sooner said than done, earlier this year, the General Assembly of the Air Park voted to finance the installation of an Avionix openAir multitrack ground station to capture maximum traffic data. The result? Benoît MATHIEU : "The result is excellent: the antenna successfully captures the majority of air traffic, also aided by the region's flat topography. This traffic data is then routed to SafeSky, who makes it available to all pilots at no cost." But that's not all. The initiative doesn't end there, and once again, partnership proves to be a key factor in success. It is now well known that for the multilateralisation of air traffic - enabling the viewing of Mode-S traffic - at least 4 antennas are necessary. So, Benoît reached out to the neighboring clubs. Their interest in also investing in aviation safety by installing a ground station has already been confirmed. For some, the vote for approval is already scheduled. >>> Follow the installation at LF8523 and the progress of future installations here. CONCLUSION This is again an example of how the combination of three success factors allows air clubs and villages to ensure the safety of their member and visitor pilots: Awareness Collaboration and the Best Technology. Thank you Benoît for leading this unifying initiative and promoting these values! How about you? Interested in the most advanced ground traffic reception station available today? Contact Avionix. As a reminder, SafeSky traffic, among other sources fueled by the Avionix receiver, is entirely free. In addition to this, you can add unique interoperability features. Check out the 2 plans offered to you:

Once more, partnership served the needs of pilots. In response to the requests of our pilots, particularly from the French community, it's now possible to integrate SafeSky traffic into SDVFR navigation software on iOS. While this feature was already available for Android, the iOS integration required some development work by SkyDreamSoft. This was now achieved, much to the delight of many SafeSky pilots. With a simple adjustment in the Settings of both Apps, pilots no longer need to use them separately but instead view traffic directly within the SDVFR app. This is made possible by the GDL90 protocol, a popular binary protocol used in aviation for communication between ADS-B devices and Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps. This is how you do it. Become SafeSky PREMIUM if you aren't yet (either by activating it directly in the APP, either by buying it on our store) Adapt your Settings in SDVFR 👉 Go to SETTINGS > OPTION > TRAFFIC SOURCE > 3. Adapt your Settings in SafeSky 👉 Go to SETTINGS > TRAFFIC SHARING > ENABLE TRAFFIC SHARING > And don't forget to take off! The result Why wait? Become SafeSky PREMIUM to enjoy this new functionality!

One key word stands out in this newsletter: PARTNERSHIP. Industry players, instances, and pilots all join the SafeSky movement. We firmly believe that "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Look at how much we were able to achieve this month, all together.

Today, we are pleased to share our latest free-flight traffic integration. This time we are teaming up with Flymaster Avionix. Flymaster pilots' positions are now visible to the SafeSky community. And very soon, SafeSky traffic will also be integrated in all 4G compatible Flymaster solutions so that their pilots can benefit from situation awareness alerts. Why Flymaster? Flymaster needs no introduction; it stands as the ultimate electronic navigation instrument for paragliding and paramotors. With over 1000 daily users during the peak season, it confirms its position as a major player in the market. And why integrate? The same rationale as always – making air traffic visible to all, and at no cost. This marks SafeSky's 10th free flight collaborative traffic integration, bringing the total number of compatible navigation software and hardware close to 20. Our commitment to interoperability and affordability remains resolute. Tristan FILY, CEO of SafeSky, stated: "Being vulnerable and unnoticed is often a free flight pilot's destiny. Until SafeSky came along. Through bilateral in-flight traffic information exchange partnerships, we aim for zero surprises in the sky. This is air traffic visibility that no other systems but SafeSky provides. I want to thank the enthusiastic team at Flymaster for our shared vision and passion."

After we shared the main conclusions of our eConspicuity survey, today we delve into SafeSky. How popular is our app, what is your most recurrent feedback and what are your most frequent questions? And lastly, how can we improve. Overall usage of SafeSky. 73% of participants use SafeSky, 70% of which use SafeSky on every flight or regularly. Usage is split almost equally between using SafeSky alone (52%) or combined with another eConspicuity system (48%). As mentioned before, pilots using multiple systems combine mostly SafeSky with FLARM (11%) or ADS-B (10%), all three combined (7%), or SafeSky combined with Pilot Aware (6%). Sense of security and effectiveness. 58% of pilots have a high to very high sense of security with SafeSky. This translates into 50% confirming that SafeSky has already helped avoid an airprox. SafeSky's capability to "see and be seen by as many pilots as possible" scored 96% (fair to high), and its interoperability scored 94%. These are pilots' 2 most important criteria of an effective EC system. Sense of security - pilot testimonials. Overall pilot experience. Overall positive pilot experience with SafeSky stands at 81%. Highest scores are given for Easy to Use and Easy to Install, both also standing at 81%. Communication & Support received a very high appreciation of 84%. Frequently Asked Questions and Quick Answers. *Multilateration in aviation traffic information is figuring out where airplanes are by looking at how long it takes for their signals to reach different ground receivers. By comparing these different times, the system can pinpoint where the airplane is. Now what? What's next? We greatly value your input and leverage it to continually improve and innovate the app. You have shared some great ideas for new functionalities and design. Perfect timing as we are preparing our new version V3! Stay tuned for more news.

Compliments of a Belgian pilot, Sven. 🙏🏻 "When I was finally in the air last Saturday, I caught myself thinking about what an incredibly useful product you have created. Only now do I realise how much traffic I never noticed before with 'see & avoid.' When Brussels Info calls me, I'm already searching for the right place for about five seconds thanks to SafeSky, which also makes their traffic advisories more efficient. You undoubtedly hear this daily, but wanted to send my personal compliments."

The latest results of our eConspicuity survey confirm once again that safety is a top priority in today's increasingly complex air traffic environment. Since 2021, SafeSky has been committed to addressing this challenge through innovation and collaboration. Today, we're thrilled to announce the set-up of a widespread ground station network across Europe, facilitated by SafeSky and driven by national and local aviation organisations. This project – called “AERO network” – marks the largest collaborative effort in general aviation safety to date. Why this initiative? Significant gaps in air traffic monitoring. At the heart of this initiative is the urgent need to reduce the risk of mid-air collisions. Traditional "see and avoid" methods have proven insufficient, particularly with the emergence of faster and newer aircraft types. Existing crowd-sourced ground station platforms are expensive and suffer from erratic hardware and software installations. This creates a lack of traffic precision and reliability. While useful for ground monitoring and plane spotting, they lack seamless integration for in-flight traffic information for pilots and also suffer from interoperability issues as they focus solely on ADS-B and a few MLAT traffic. (Reminder: ADS-B equips less than 10% of General Aviation in Europe.) From an Air Traffic Control (ATC) standpoint, air traffic below 1000 feet and outside controlled airspace or in the vicinity of aerodromes often goes undetected by secondary radars, effectively rendering it invisible. This represents a significant gap in air traffic surveillance. These challenges call for a major collaborative effort among all parties involved in air safety, which now becomes a reality with the « AERO network » project. Parties involved in this initiative and their roles: 1.    AVIONIX, SafeSky and OGN: co-developing the most advanced ground station. AVIONIX partnered with SafeSky and Open Glider Network to develop the most advanced ground traffic reception station: the Avionix openAir multitrack All-in-one Receiver. This solution is plug-and-play, "state of the art," and affordable. The station collects traffic data from various radio systems like ADS-B, FLARM, OGN-Tracker, PilotAware, FANET, ADS-L, and more, alongside some recreational drones with Remote ID. Additionally, traffic within the range of at least 4 ground stations is multilaterated, allowing to see Mode-S traffic as well. The ground station directly transmits this data to both OGN and SafeSky networks, offering real-time information to pilots via the free SafeSky app and all other compatible navigation softwares and hardwares. Tristan FILY, CEO SafeSky: “Our belief in the power of collaboration drives our approach since our very beginning. We've taken on a federating role, bringing together industry stakeholders and their technologies. Today, we go one step further: serving as a facilitator between developers, federations, national institutions, and local clubs.” 2.    National and local instances: leading the initiative. Federations, clubs and organisations are in the driver’s seat of this initiative, taking on their responsibility and demonstrating dedication to fostering a culture of safety within their respective aviation community. Their role is to implement the network in practise. This involves decision-making, funding, equipment, installation and maintenance of the ground stations, in a collaborative effort. They enjoy the strategic support from European flight instances such as EASA, EMF and Europe Air Sports. "The partnership signed by OGN, SafeSky and Avionix is deemed as quite positive, for establishing an efficient interoperability solution." Andrea Anesini, Europe Air Sports President Who's already leading the way? Initiatives in Belgium, Norway, France, and Spain are already underway, demonstrating their willingness to taking the lead and setting an example in improving air safety. What are we collectively aiming for? Together, by aggregating radio signals and making them available through various platforms and apps, we want to achieve significant improvements in air traffic visibility and safety for all pilots. Additionally, air traffic controllers will benefit from free access to live air traffic data. Challenges persist as we move forward. Aircraft without transmitters will remain invisible. Therefore, further efforts will have to be made to encourage visibility compliance among all pilots and deploying additional ground stations. 3.    Pilots engage actively in the transformation. Appendix: Datasheet openAir Multitrack SafeSky ground station project presentation

The "SafeSky experiment" conducted at L’Ile de la Réunion (France) by the "Direction de la Sécurité de l’Aviation Civile Océan Indien" (DSAC OI) over three months, starting on October 14, 2023, revealed its first results on February 16, 2024. Introduction. Pilots on "La Réunion" face particular unique safety challenges associated with its island nature, primarily because the majority of flights cater to tourism activities.. Common identical flight routes and a single radio frequency lead to massive saturation. The environmental topology also negatively affects radio frequency quality, as evident in the radio extract below. These issues collectively contribute to an overall sense of danger for all pilots. 🔊 Radio extract 🔊 The "SafeSky experiment". The experiment aimed to assess the SafeSky App's effectiveness in addressing the air safety challenges of Réunion Island. With voluntary participation, it engaged over 150 pilots, representing the majority in the territory, most of whom were flying 3-axis aircraft. While many pilots installed and used SafeSky, not all continued, a typical observation in a change adoption curve. 🔊 An example of how SafeSky could facilitate pilots' life 🔊 Challenges and opportunities for enhancement. The experimentation highlighted some functional challenges such as battery consumption, support suitability, and network coverage. Additionally, software refinement and addressing the absence of specific traffic, particularly helicopters, were identified as areas for improvement. It appeared that most of the mentioned challenges were already tackled with a number of existing and future solutions: General conclusion. "When used effectively, SafeSky is a major contribution to flight safety, particularly in the island’s context. The use of 'electronic visibility' devices is to be promoted and gradually integrated in a manner suited to our practices. The system relies on the integration of the highest number possible." (Regional ULM Committee of Reunion Island) "No system will replace the "see and be seen" principle, but all real-time safety-contributing information provided to pilots helps to mitigate the risk—this is the essence." (FFPLUM) Next steps. Additional investment – the DSAC OI intends to install 8 ground stations to enhance protocol reception. A new three-month SafeSky experiment will be launched afterwards to collect fresh insights. Change management – Recognising the time and investment needed for change adoption, the DSAC OI plans to provide educational support for pilots and instructors and to promote the use of electronic visibility devices in aviation practices. SafeSky's role – SafeSky commits to supporting DSAC OI with easily addressable questions. The upcoming V3 will also introduce solutions such as cancelling alerts during formation flights. Check out the full results:

SafeSky and Gaggle have been awarded the '2024 Safety Award' from the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA) in recognition of our « significant contribution to aviation safety ». This is SafeSky's fourth award since its launch in 2021 and its first outside of Europe. It's also the first time one of our partnerships has been recognised, which fills us with immense pride as we focus on creating a collaborative network of industry stakeholders. The Gaggle-SafeSky partnership. Exactly one year ago, SafeSky and Gaggle teamed up to facilitate a two-way real-time exchange of in-flight traffic information. This partnership is part of our ongoing mission to enhance safety for pilots across various disciplines, from paramotor and paraglider pilots to those flying airplanes. It was a dedicated SafeSky pilot who suggested integrating Gaggle traffic. Tristan FILY, CEO of SafeSky, said, “It's truly heartwarming to see our collaborative air safety efforts being recognised by esteemed associations. Our partnership with Gaggle, the leading flight recording app for paramotor and paragliding pilots worldwide, is just one example of how we at SafeSky aim to take on a federating role to collectively address the latest air safety challenges.” Hennie BRINK, Founder of Gaggle, shared his excitement for the award: "When the opportunity to join forces with SafeSky presented itself, we didn't hesitate. Their unwavering commitment to elevating aviation safety resonated deeply with our values and mission at Gaggle. SafeSky is emerging as a pioneer in the field, and their innovative approach to integrating with applications like ours is revolutionising the way we fly. The capability for Gaggle users to detect nearby aircraft has become a cornerstone feature, significantly enhancing paraglider pilot safety by alerting them to potential hazards, such as helicopter rotor wash and other risky conditions. This accolade serves as a testament to our shared dedication to safeguarding pilots from all forms of aviation." We can not end this announcement without thanking everybody contributing to this amazing award: the CAASA for their recognition, the fantastic Gaggle team for their partnership, and last but not least our loyal pilots who believe in creating a safer sky, together.

Long-awaited news! As of now, with no extra effort or cost — the entire SafeSky community can see XCTrack pilots. And soon XCTrack pilots will also be able to receive alerts about nearby traffic. This integration adds to our long list of unique air traffic information that no other systems can provide. Safety matters. XCTrack, developed by the XContest team, is well-known for its use in competitions, and stands as the most popular flight computer App for paraglider and paramotor pilots on Android, with well over 100,000 downloads. Recent events in Europe have highlighted a concerning rise in airmisses between paragliders and General Aviation, especially during critical phases of takeoff and landing. In addition, crowded paragliding spots are unfortunately turning into potential hotspots for incidents. ➡️ A recent example in South-Africa showed how life-saving fire-fighting helicopter operations had to be suspended due to crowded skies involving paragliding activity. Bilateral Partnership. In this partnership, traffic exchange between SafeSky and XCTrack goes both ways, fostering greater flight planning and a more connected sky for everyone. Jakub HAVEL from XContest team: “For paragliders and hang gliders, freedom in the air is one of the most important things. To maintain this freedom, safe coexistence with everyone else in the air is necessary today. In our opinion, SafeSky is a great solution to prevent potentially dangerous situations and make that freedom of movement in the air as safe as possible for everyone.” SafeSky CEO, Tristan FILY: "Creating harmony in the congested sky is our daily mission at SafeSky. Today's integration with XCTrack perfectly demonstrates that ambition: effortless communication between our systems and pilots. It's like exchanging a simple digital 'Hi' in the sky!" 🤔 What will be our next integration... ? Stay tuned. Download now: ·       XCTrack ·       SafeSky

Meet the "openAir multitrack All-in-one" Receiver! Why improve air safety? LFNA (Gap Tallard): a perfect example. Nestled in the splendid French Alps, LFNA is a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts. It offers a variety of activities, from gliders to ultralights, motor planes, and parachute jumps. LFNA is a bustling hub of aerial activities. However, these diverse aerial activities come with inherent risks, and pilots flying to or from LFNA must navigate a complex airspace, requiring extra vigilance and attention to safety. Adding to this complexity are the limitations of "See and Avoid" rules and the limited electronic traffic visibility and availability. To address these safety concerns, our SafeSky team is working hard. We recently achieved a significant milestone with over 60,000 registered pilots. Today, we are focusing on an additional level of safety for all pilot categories at the entry points of airfields and in the approaches to aerodrome circuits. How to achieve this additional level of safety? Our partnership with AVIONIX and Open Glider Network. In collaboration with SafeSky and OGN, AVIONIX is introducing the most advanced ground station to extend traffic reception at low altitude. This "plug-and-play" solution is both comprehensive and professional, collecting traffic data from various "eConspicuous" radio systems, including ADS-B, FLARM, OGN-Tracker, PilotAware, FANET, ADS-L, and recreational drones using Remote ID. The ground station data is directly transmitted to the OGN and SafeSky network, providing real-time information to pilots through the SafeSky app and other compatible navigation software. The installation and configuration. The installation of the ground station at LFNA was swift. In collaboration with "Alpes en Ciel," SafeSky obtained permission to install an antenna on the roof of the hangar. Placed at an elevated position for maximum coverage, the antenna was discreetly connected to the ground station inside. The setup was straightforward, involving the creation of a Wi-Fi access point and connection to the station's web interface. Within an hour, the installation was operational, providing real-time visibility of air traffic within a radius of 50 to 200 kilometers. The result: an additional layer of safety. Thanks to the ground station's real-time traffic data integrated into the SafeSky network, pilots benefit from an extra layer of safety with complete visibility of nearby aircraft, even at low altitudes. This is just the beginning... The installation at LFNA is only the first illustration of the shared ambition between SafeSky, Avionix, and OGN, in collaboration with federations, national institutions, and clubs. A large-scale European project is emerging on the horizon, and you'll have the privilege of being the first spectators of this safer sky. Stay tuned for details in the coming weeks on how we are collectively creating a safer sky. For more information : SafeSky Avionix

In December 2023 and January 2024, SafeSky conducted a thorough survey on eConspicuity. The survey, open to all pilots both within and outside the SafeSky community, received high response. Participants from 25 countries shared insights on their practices, knowledge, and system appreciation. The results provide a well-balanced and transparent perspective on eConspicuity from the entire pilot community, in Europe and beyond. It's important to note that the SafeSky community was probably highly responsive, making it prominently represented in this survey, particularly in SafeSky-related questions. A big thank you to all participants for contributing to our shared goal of creating a safer sky, together. Overall findings Participants demographics Over 50% of the participants are aged 60 and above, confirming flying remains a recreation with entry barriers (such as time and financial investment). Participants' flying experience is evenly distributed across beginners, experienced, and proficient pilots. Representation from 25 countries, with notable participation from France, the UK, and Germany, is in line with the European distribution of the general aviation community. Aircraft classes are very diverse, with significant representation in microlights (29%), planes (28%), (para)gliders (18%), and an emerging presence of UAVs (4%), showcasing the new variety in sky occupants. See & Avoid limitations There is a transparent acknowledgment that applying "See & Avoid" rules is challenging. Major barriers include limited external visibility and in-cockpit activities, with 71% admitting not having the recommended 80%+ time to look outside! This leads to (high) concern (59%) about experiencing an airprox (risk of collision), supported by 61% confirming having encountered at least one airprox. Airprox pilot testimonials Airproxes predominantly occur below 2500ft, in the circuit, or when approaching an airfield, with a surprising 16% experiencing them above 2500ft. Pilots often refrain from reporting airmisses (73%) due to administrative hassle, lack of knowledge about the process, or reporting them elsewhere. eConspicuity (EC) systems 76% of participants use an eConspicuity system, with variations across countries, France showing the lowest use (only 66%), and the UK standing out with 93%. SafeSky is the most popular EC system (73%), partly explained by the likely high survey participation rate of the SafeSky community, but also confirming its high adoption level. Other popular systems include FLARM (28%), ADS-B in (24%), SkyEcho 2 (13%), PilotAware (11%), and Stratux (6%). Of all pilots using an EC device, 55% use one single device. Pilots using multiple systems combine mostly SafeSky with FLARM (11%) or ADS-B (10%), all three combined (7%), or SafeSky combined with Pilot Aware (6%). eConspicuity (EC) system concerns and limitations 22% of pilots don't know or are unsure which traffic their EC device will display while 64% lack full confidence in their EC device's ability to detect an airprox. This lack of knowledge and confidence applies to all systems and combinations. 72% of pilots confirm having noticed converging aircraft their device did not see. Conversely, in 83% of cases, EC systems spotted aircraft before pilots did. This emphases the need to complement both human and electronic vision. What pilots miss most in terms of EC, is all pilots not being electronically visible, closely followed by the lack of interoperability between systems. "The lack of obligation for all users of the sky to be conspicuous is THE issue." EFB (Electronic Flight Bags, navigation software) SkyDemon is the most used EFB (46%), especially in the UK (73% of users), followed by SDVFR (23%) mainly used in France, ForeFlight, AirNavPro, Garmin Pilot, and EasyVFR. 33% declare using several EFBs, while 5% declare not using any EFB. Now what? What's next? In our upcoming newsletters, we will delve into more detailed survey topics, and of course, SafeSky feedback. We will engage with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and our other partners to individually and collectively address air safety improvements. We want to thank again all pilots for taking the time for transparently sharing their experience with eConspicuity.

Testimonial from a French pilot - January 2024. "During a recent flight through the Massif Central, I encountered a compelling example that highlighted the effectiveness of SafeSky. Opting for the Massif Central due to its lower traffic, I noticed reported traffic on my trajectory, seemingly stationary. Despite visual checks, I couldn't spot it until an evasive maneuver revealed a spiraling paramotor, explaining the icon's behavior on the screen. This real-life scenario demonstrated SafeSky's ability to 'see the invisible' and proactively avoid potential hazards. Another incident involved spotting unreported traffic approaching my trajectory, 500 ft above, possibly explaining ATC's instruction to stay below a certain altitude. These experiences strengthen my confidence in SafeSky and its role in enhancing air safety."

Every year, the editorial team from “Aviation et Pilote”, the well-respected French aviation magazine, carefully selects products that made an impact during the year in the aeronautical area. We are immensely proud that this year SafeSky has been distinguished. The panel cited: "What sets SafeSky apart is the quality of its execution, providing a user-friendly experience that allows pilots to keep their eyes on the sky while receiving timely alerts about imminent dangers. We also appreciate the increasing number of application developers integrating SafeSky directly into their platforms. Plus, it's available for free!" “Aviation et Pilote” has shown unwavering support since the creation of SafeSky in 2021. They've been with us every step of the way, exploring every new release and putting it through rigorous testing. Their motivation stems from their genuine concern for the shortcomings of the "See and Avoid" rule, a deficiency they experienced first-hand and shared in one of their recent publications. The editorial team also mentioned that: "SafeSky is ready to expand its data access on other channels as soon as Europe makes a definitive choice on how to convey this information." It's an ambition that we are pleased to confirm and hopefully be able to share its realisation quickly with you! Thanks to all pilots, supporters, partners, and especially to “Aviation et Pilote” for your continuous support!