The fundamental requirement for evaluating research content is to have the infrastructure to simulate and assess new concepts and systems. For several decades now, the Institute has been developing facilities for the validation of concepts, technologies and procedures in air traffic management. Together, these facilities are known as the Air Traffic Validation Center and are unique in Europe.

The Validation Center gives scientists the right tools to test and evaluate new ideas and technologies for all areas of air traffic management. At the same time, it also allows each development step to be continuously reviewed – from the initial idea down to the testing of prototypes and their implementation under realistic conditions.

The elements of the Validation Center can be used flexibly, depending on the research requirements, and both individually as well as grouped. Besides the facilities of the Institute itself, it is also possible to connect to further research facilities and validation platforms of other DLR Institutes or external partners (e.g. more simulation cockpits and air traffic control simulators).

The different elements of the Validation Center can be grouped into four domains