The CASS (Complex Airfield Systems Strategy) 2025 workshop, held February 4-5 at Heathrow’s Compass Centre, brought together airfield systems professionals for two days of focused discussions and impactful networking.

Attendees gained exclusive access to the NATS Digital Lab at Heathrow and Air Traffic Control Tower, experiencing cutting-edge technology firsthand and sparking ideas for advancing airfield operations.

Simon Body from Fujitsu delivered a compelling keynote on integrating IT, OT, and Digital Thread to enhance airfield systems. Darrell Reed from Heathrow shared a clear roadmap for ‘Developing an Enterprise Architecture’ to strengthen airport infrastructure.

Andrew McFee and Beth Henschel provided an update on Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) Digital Twin project, building on their 2023 Cranfield University DARTeC talk. They highlighted how Digital Twins drive predictive maintenance and data-informed decisions. Ron Chapple from NV5 presented their whitepaper, offering practical insights into Digital Twins and their role in optimising airfield operations.

Greg Paton, Steve Armitage, and Neil Pritchard from Heathrow shared progress on Smart Stand and Ramp Optimisation, detailing gains in turnaround times and efficiency, with plans for further improvements.

Supported by Heathrow, YVR, AMS, ADB SAFEGATE, Alchemy, ASSAIA, Fujitsu, NV5, and Searidge, and co-sponsored by Eagle Aerospace and MOOG, CASS 2025 set a strong foundation for innovation.

The working group will reconvene in Niagara Falls ahead of SWIFT 25 in September.