CANSO and Metron Aviation to Launch COMPASS: A Global Platform for Air Traffic Flow Management Sharing and Synchronisation

The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) and Metron Aviation announced an intent to launch - by early 2026 - a digital platform that will transform how air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and aviation stakeholders share information and make decisions.

COMPASS – short for CANSO Operational Messaging Platform for Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) Sharing and Synchronisation – is designed to improve situational awareness and collaborative decision-making across the aviation community.

COMPASS will enable ANSPs, airports and airlines to exchange operational information and will help make air traffic management (ATM) safer, more efficient and more resilient.

Under the partnership, Metron Aviation will provide, operate and maintain COMPASS at no cost to CANSO and its members, ensuring global accessibility and long-term value for all aviation stakeholders.

The COMPASS platform will:

• Transition from existing regional platforms, such as the CADENA OIS in the Americas, toward a single, globally harmonised solution. This approach builds on the proven strengths of CADENA while introducing enhanced capabilities to further improve air traffic operations globally.
• Strengthen regional cooperation through a shared platform where airports, airlines, and air traffic control facilities can exchange information.
• Support future-ready operations by enabling automation, synchronisation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Promote global harmonisation by aligning regional systems into one connected, worldwide network.

CANSO will work directly with regional stakeholders to establish the COMPASS regions and develop associated procedures, ensuring that the platform is responsive to local needs.

As Simon Hocquard, CANSO President and CEO said:“COMPASS is a major step forward in building globally harmonised, resilient, and efficient ATM operations. By providing this platform free of charge, Metron Aviation has shown true leadership and a long-term commitment to supporting enhanced collaboration that will improve operations.”

Gene Hayman, CEO of Stratify Aerospace: “Stratify Aerospace, together with our subsidiary Metron Aviation, is pleased to partner with CANSO on the development of COMPASS, a platform designed to strengthen collaborative decision-making, enhance shared situational awareness, and enable the global ATFM community to share information more effectively.”

Through COMPASS, CANSO and Metron Aviation aim to strengthen global cooperation, reduce fragmentation, and help the aviation industry meet the demands of an increasingly complex airspace.