Aviation training company CAE has showcased its innovative eye tracking technology for training air training controllers at Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal this week.
Adapted from its use in pilot training CAE hopes to use eye tracking to better understand how air traffic services (ATS) trainees scan, process, and respond to dynamic radar environments. The company is developing a training ecosystem for air traffic controllers that can be delivered in a scalable way and ensure operational readiness in rapidly evolving airspace environments.
The eye tracking technology is on display at stand H2670 at Airspace World 2025.
“As ANSPs accelerate their modernization efforts with airspace improvements including Trajectory Based Operations, improved infrastructure and new technologies to meet current and future demand for air traffic services, it is critical that equal emphasis be placed on training innovation,” said Marie-Christine Cloutier, Vice President - Strategy, Performance & Marketing at CAE and Head of CAE’s new Air Traffic Services division.
“We need to prepare the next generation of air traffic personnel and ensure ANSPs are future ready with high-quality training programs and adequate training capacity. CAE’s turnkey expertise in competency-based training design, advanced instructional delivery, and data-driven technologies can support ANSPs in this transformation.”
The interactive demonstration puts users in an operational environment where eye tracking analytics can assess trainee focus, scanning behaviour, and response prioritization under pressure.
Emmanuel Levitte, chief technology and product officer at CAE said, ”This technology goes beyond observation – it gives instructors measurable feedback to support personalized learning pathways, improve retention, and build stronger operational habits from day one.
“It’s another example of how CAE’s proven innovation from the pilot training domain could be adapted for ATS training and to the complexity and pace of air traffic management.”
CAE trains pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, cabin crew, and since last October, in a partnership with NAV CANADA, air traffic controllers and flight service specialists. CAE and NAV CANADA announced their partnership in April 2024. The ATS Training Centre in Montreal, Canada has so far trained seven cohorts of air traffic controllers and flight service specialists, who have now transferred to NAV CANADA to complete Specialty and on the job training.