CENA What's new : editorial

Air traffic control is a recent activity which has developed since the fifties.

The use of the radar,in the sixties , constituted an important stage, followed by the arrival of the first computors.

Within the Direction de la navigation aérienne (DNA), the CENA , Centre des Etudes de la Navigation aérienne, had played then a pionner role with the development of the first generation of the French system of assistance to control: the CAUTRA. It was already one of the more in advance in the world

Air traffic control has become a complex system , because of its human and technical characteristics,the number of its actors,and the requirement of always more security.It must continuously adapt itself to a sustained high growth of air transport, take profit of technical progress and develop a better European integration. Safer and effective solutions which fully take profit of new technologies must be found and the stages to reach that point defined.
Thinking of new concepts,of a new management of the air traffic, of the evolution of occupations and tools, being aware at the same time of the transition problems was the main concern of the CENA.

Anchored in the operational but attached to a very strong co-operation with its European partners and the world of research, the CENA always wanted to be driving to fully prepare the necessary changes, by showing at the same time realism and innovation.

In March 2005, in the framework of the reform of the DGAC, the CENA and the STNA merged to become the Direction de la Technique et de l'innovation (DTI) wihin the DSNA, the new provider of the French air navigation Services.

As a part of the DTI, the activities of the CENA from now on will be ensured by the Sous Direction des Etudes et de la Recherche appliquée(SDER) which will take in account the slogan: