Mr Tauriņš was awarded the Letter of Recognition for his important contribution to the development of the aviation industry of Latvia and strengthening national defence capabilities as well as promoting Latvia’s image internationally. Under his guidance, the company has provided efficient and safe air space management in line with the highest standards even at times of crisis. Initiatives brought forth by Mr Tauriņš have attracted European Union funding for the construction of a new air traffic control tower and centre, thus significantly enhancing national defence infrastructure and cooperation with the National Armed Forces.

Letters of Recognition were presented to Mr Tauriņš and two other heads of transport sector entities by Atis Švinka, Minister of Transport, who highlighted that

“As representatives of the transport and communications industry we are genuinely proud of Ģirts Ozols, Dāvids Tauriņš and Aivars Aksenoks – people whose professionalism and passion drives forward the transport sector while also reinforcing national security and technological independence. Each of them has, with their work, made a lasting contribution: from cybersecurity and air space management to improving road traffic safety culture. It is symbolic that it is on Lāčplēsis Day that we thank excellent industry professionals for their work which they perform on a daily basis in the name of a better Latvia.” 

The Letter of Recognition is awarded in accordance with the Cabinet rules on the establishment of awards of state institutions to highlight professionalism, achievements and conscientious work aimed at strengthening Latvia’s development and security.

The Borealis Alliance Board met on 28 October 2025 in Riga to review ongoing initiatives and prepare for a strategic workshop to be held in Vilnius next spring, where the Board will define a renewed long-term direction for the Alliance.

The Board also approved key planning documents for 2026, including the Budget and Communications Plan, and reviewed financial performance updates.

The Alliance management team presented a status update on major project activities.

CONCERTO, where Borealis Alliance is part of a consortium in the SESARJU project, is developing a concept of operations for contrail avoidance. The consortium will finish the technical part this year, and the final reporting to SJU will be early next year.

The Borealis FRA implementation, which has been the main activity of the Alliance since 2015, is almost complete. That included closing the related CINEA grant agreement ”SESAR Deployment Programme implementation 2015 – Cluster 2”. Preparing final FRA implementation steps for NATS, and potential future integration of Oro Navigacija, the newest Alliance member.

With these two projects soon to be concluded, the Alliance has been working on new ideas for collaboration and future strategic programmes. This work has led to the establishment of a new project, the Flexible and Scalable Ratings and Endorsements. The meeting highlighted the importance of supporting the next generation of air traffic controllers and enhancing the overall efficiency of European air traffic management. Board members and accountable representatives exchanged views on how to attract young professionals to the air traffic control (ATC) profession and how training methods could be further harmonised across the Alliance. Although operational environments differ among ANSPs, members agreed on the need to gather comparative data on training duration and success rates to identify opportunities for improvement.

Borealis Alliance Board Chairman, Thorsten Elkjær of Naviair, emphasised the importance of embracing new opportunities in air traffic management.

Looking ahead, and based on the change in strategy, the Board agreed to transform the next Borealis meeting, scheduled to take place in Vilnius in March 2026, into a strategic workshop. The goal will be to refresh the Alliance’s long-term vision and define new objectives to ensure continued leadership in European ATM cooperation.

Mr Elkjær also thanked Davids Taurins, Chairman of the Board of the State Joint Stock Company Latvijas gaisa satiksme (LGS), for hosting the meeting in Riga and ensuring its success.

About the Borealis Alliance

The Borealis Alliance unites the Air Navigation Service Providers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Together, they manage around 3.8 million flights per year across 12.5 million km² of North European airspace — forming Europe’s main transatlantic gateway.

The Alliance focuses on operational and environmental improvements, particularly through the implementation of Free Route Airspace, enabling airlines to optimise flight paths, improve predictability, and reduce emissions. In the current geopolitical environment, enhanced cooperation — particularly in cross-border operations and addressing military airspace needs — remains central to the Alliance’s mission.

The discussions focused on current challenges in air traffic management and developments related to the geopolitical situation in the region.

Participants exchanged information on flight navigation disruptions affecting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), measures to counter unlawful drone activity, the use of unmanned aircraft for flight inspections, and cybersecurity in air traffic management.

Both parties agreed on the importance of further strengthening cooperation — both bilaterally and within the wider regional framework.

ACADIA – Implementation of SWIM aeronautical information exchange services

State Joint Stock Company “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” (LGS) has been working on introducing the services envisioned by the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) initiative since 2023.

The SWIM aeronautical information exchange services are being introduced in the framework of the CLEAN ATM (CP1 Deployment – Synchronised Modernisation of ATM) project, under the section Acceleration of Aeronautical Digital Information Availability (ACADIA). The implementation of ACADIA is being coordinated by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) with more than 20 partners from 17 countries involved in the project.

The aim for the introduction of SWIM is to digitise information exchange throughout the European air traffic management system ensuring delivery and exchange of quality assured information between aeronautical information service providers, air traffic control services and airports regardless of their geographic location, civilian or military nature, their role in the provision of air navigation services, the systems they use or the manufacturers thereof.

Real-time sharing of aeronautical data and information will promote flight efficiency as the information received will help optimise flight trajectories, thus indirectly also impacting air space capacity and flight execution, it will also help reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.

The CLEAN ATM project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and according to the agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environmental Executive Agency, the ACADIA section of the CLEAN ATM project is to be completed by 31 December 2025.

State Joint Stock Company “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” (LGS) has been working on introducing the services envisioned by the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) initiative since 2023, and by the end of 2025 aeronautical information exchange services will be placed into operational use.

The SWIM aeronautical information exchange services are being introduced in the framework of the CLEAN ATM (CP1 Deployment – Synchronised Modernisation of ATM) project, under the section Acceleration of Aeronautical Digital Information Availability (ACADIA). The implementation of ACADIA is being coordinated by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) with more than 20 partners from 17 countries involved in the project.

The aim for the introduction of SWIM is to digitise information exchange throughout the European air traffic management system ensuring delivery and exchange of quality assured information between aeronautical information service providers, air traffic control services and airports regardless of their geographic location, civilian or military nature, their role in the provision of air navigation services, the systems they use or the manufacturers thereof.

Users will be provided with Aeronautical Information Feature Service allowing them to receive aeronautical information features on request via query-based interface and filtering elements by type, name, spatial, time or logic parameters. Furthermore, the digital NOTAM service will ensure digitally coded NOTAM data displaying events which temporarily impact the air navigation.

“This is one of the most important European air traffic management modernisation projects that we are a part of. By gradually moving forward with technological upgrades and procedural improvements, LGS is contributing to increased efficiency and safety of air traffic,” Dāvids Tauriņš, Chair of the Board at LGS, explains.

Real-time sharing of aeronautical data and information will promote flight efficiency as the information received will help optimise flight trajectories, thus indirectly also impacting air space capacity and flight execution, it will also help reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.

Further information and technical documentation about service endpoints (access points), service interface specifications and user guidelines is available on the Eurocontrol SWIM service registry website https://eur-registry.swim.aero/services (search by service provider name: LGS) as of 11 July 2025 and will be updated as necessary. All interested users are welcome to provide their feedback by emailing ais@lgs.lv.

The CLEAN ATM project is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and according to the agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environmental Executive Agency, the ACADIA section of the CLEAN ATM project is to be completed by 31 December 2025.

The MSS-A RIX surveillance system is an active multilateration system for the precise detection of the positioning of aircraft and vehicles equipped with Mode-S transponders within the airfield of Riga airport. The system data is processed together with data from other surveillance systems and radio locators by the A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System), an automated air traffic control system, and the results are displayed on the workstations of air traffic controllers and other users of the A-SMGCS system.

LGS and ERA have been collaborating in the establishment and continuous modernisation of the system for almost twenty years already. According to the details of the contract, ERA will upgrade part of the multi-sensor surveillance system from the old MSS generation to the NEO generation.

“The ERA system providing Riga Airport coverage proved to be a very reliable air traffic control solution. This award is a sign of the long-term relationship between LGS and ERA,” stated ERA CEO Ondřej Chlost after the signing ceremony.

“LGS and ERA have been collaborating successfully for more than twenty years and have already implemented several joint projects. Now the time has come to modernise the equipment installed in 2006, and I am certain that these works will be completed on time and in the highest quality as always, thus increasing flight safety even more,” said Aivars Pūcītis, Board Members at LGS.

About ERA:

ERA (a member of OMNIPOL group) is a leading company in multilateration, multistatic surveillance, and reconnaissance technology. Its unrivalled experience in passive surveillance sensor development provides ERA with unique know-how to deliver comprehensive solutions for global markets. It develops, manufactures and implements mission-critical systems for military and civil purposes.

ERA made air traffic control history when deploying the first multilateration system and introducing gate-to-gate surveillance.

ERA introduced to the world a novel passive medium range surveillance sensor category called Passive ESM Tracker (PET)  for defence and electronic warfare purposes – which is today, in its fifth generation, known as VERA-NG – tailored for air, maritime and land target surveillance and reconnaissance. The company heritage and global scene experience in passive EMS/ELINT helped ERA launch another category of Over the Horizon Direction Finding (OTH DF) long-range sensor, in its second generation called PLESS.

The above-mentioned sensors allowed for the growth of a broad ecosystem consisting of sensor performance prediction and evaluation tools and data mining tools together with a full virtual EW scene simulator to help military intelligence.

Over the last three decades, ERA has reached a number of more than 180 installations, deployed in over 70 countries on five continents with 24/7 operations fulfilling demanding customer requirements. More important, however, than the given number of references is the experience ERA has achieved and the lessons learned during implementation of our solutions. The company intends to continue introducing new technologies to adapt to tomorrow’s challenges.

For additional information, visit www.era.aero, LinkedIn company/era-a-s or Twitter @ERAaero

“The new air traffic control tower will improve aviation safety and allow for a higher number of flights thus driving forward economic development. Furthermore, in the current geopolitical landscape it is crucial that this tower will be used not only for controlling civilian, but also military flights. It is important to note that half of the project funding, i.e., more than EUR 26 million, have been provided as a grant from the Connecting Europe Facility. This is a concrete example of European Union funds promoting Latvia’s security and development,” Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, said at the cornerstone laying ceremony.

Dāvids Tauriņš, Chair of the Board of LGS, placed into the time capsule a communication tool used by air traffic controllers – a pair of headphones –, flags of the Republic of Latvia, the European Union and LGS, the 7 March aircraft take-off and landing schedule at Riga Airport, and a message for future generations emphasising the importance of the tower in ensuring flight safety and urging for continued development of air traffic services.

“We have been working on this idea for several years, and the time has now come to lay the cornerstone of the building and launch the most important phase: the actual construction. The tower will open up completely new opportunities for LGS, Riga Airport, and our cooperation partners: the Air Force and the Border Guard, as well as airlines and passengers,” Mr Tauriņš said.

The planned cost of construction of the project “Reconstruction of the LGS building with the construction of a new air traffic control tower complex” totals EUR 51.3 million (without VAT). The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is co-funding the project aimed at improving and adapting infrastructure for dual use, namely for both civilian and military purposes, with EUR 26.263 million. LGS will also receive a favourable loan in the amount of EUR 25 million from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB).

The new ATC tower will stand at 49.9 meters on a building site of 5958 square meters and with a total interior area of 12 185.8 square meters. The tower will have one level underground and nine above ground.

The existing LGS ATC tower was built in 1973, meaning all its MEP and design solutions are those used in the 1970s. With the airport evolving, it has become increasingly difficult to fulfil its needs and introduce innovative technologies with the existing ATC tower. It will, however, remain as a back-up tower at Riga Airport.

Construction work is being performed by SIA “AIMASA”. The construction supervisor is SIA “PMG”. The project was designed by supplier union ATCT 2020 consisting of architectural firm SIA “ARHIS ARHITEKTI” and U.S. architectural, engineering and interior design company “LEO A DALY”.

According to the contract, the construction work in the project entitled “Reconstruction of the existing SJC “Latvijas gaisa satiksme” building with the construction of a new air traffic control tower complex” shall be commenced by 1 January 2025. The contractor has planned to begin all the required planning, drafting and approval of documents, as well as the setting up of the construction site and other work (removal of MEP systems and installation of new ones, localised reconstruction of part of the existing building, etc.) already this year. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2026.

The total contracted amount is EUR 51 255 844.90 (without VAT). The project has also been allocated funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the amount of EUR 26.263 million for upgrading and adapting infrastructure for dual use, i.e., for both civilian and military purposes. LGS will also receive a loan of EUR 25 million with favourable conditions from the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB).

“Of course, we are very happy with the fact that this long-awaited project, which is of great importance to LGS, Riga Airport and the aviation sector in Latvia in general, is, at last, imminent. As a result of a procurement negotiation procedure a contractor has been selected who has undertaken to perform the construction works within 24 months allowing LGS to then install state-of-the-art equipment in the tower and begin using it for air traffic control,” Mr Tauriņš explains.

In turn, Mr Apsītis highlights: “We have undertaken to implement an immense and important project, and to be honest, such opportunities do not arise all that frequently for contractors in Latvia. We are certain that the new tower and all the other infrastructure will be placed into operation at the end of 2026, and it will not only improve air traffic control and flight safety, but also become a new landmark and calling card for the city of Riga, being the first thing that visitors see when arriving by air to the capital of Latvia.”

Standing at 27 meters high, the existing LGS ATC tower was built in 1973, meaning all its MEP and design solutions are those used in the 1970s. With the airport evolving, it has become increasingly difficult to fulfil its needs and introduce innovative technologies with the existing ATC tower. It will, however, remain as a back-up tower at Riga Airport.

In turn, the new ATC tower is a prerequisite for the further successful development of Riga Airport to ensure that it can keep providing the safest and most profitable air traffic services at the busiest airport in the Baltics. The upgrading of the air traffic control infrastructure will ensure aligned development of the infrastructure of the airport and the company, the integration of civilian and military air traffic and improved civilian-military mobility. The new technologies to be installed during the upgrade will allow for the introduction of a Remote Control Tower making it possible to remotely control take-off and landing of aircraft at other airfields in Latvia. The technological features of the tower will help optimise the interaction of arrivals and departures, as well as the layout of horizontal and vertical separation, thus reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and noise, and ensuring service continuity as much as possible.

The new ATC tower will stand at 49.9 meters on a building site of 5958 square meters and with a total interior area of 12 185.8 square meters. The tower will have one level underground and nine above ground.

The new LGS ATC tower was designed by supplier union ATCT 2020 consisting of three members: architectural firm SIA “ARHIS ARHITEKTI”, “LEO A DALY” – a major U.S. architecture, engineering, and interior design company, and “Marcos Costilla Aviation Consulting Group, LLC”.

The project is implemented with the support of the European Union.