In an exclusive interview for ACE (Aerospace Central Europe) magazine, Editor-in-Chief Kateřina Urbanová delves into the high-speed world of Tomáš Richtr, a visionary leader with a Formula 1 mindset, who now leads CS SOFT with the same passion and precision he brings to the racetrack. Balancing his love for commentary with his visionary leadership, Richtr channels the strategic mindset and relentless drive of Formula 1 into steering CS SOFT towards unparalleled innovation and excellence. His commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing new technologies is setting the pace for the future of air traffic management, ensuring that CS SOFT remains at the forefront of the industry.
Tomáš Richtr
Can you provide an overview of CS SOFT and its mission in air traffic management, including the core values driving its activities?
CS SOFT is a company that was founded several decades ago, with its first key product being a flight data processing and planning system. This solution was gradually developed, leading to a beneficial partnership with air traffic management in the Czech Republic. Currently, CS SOFT is striving to diversify its product and service portfolio to avoid reliance on a single solution and a single customer. The company is focusing on expanding its product portfolio and diversifying strategic pillars to ensure stability and future growth. CS SOFT bases its activities on values such as goal orientation, efficiency, innovation, and corporate culture. These values were communicated to employees during a general meeting, where the new organizational structure of the company and its future direction were presented. Our mission is of utmost importance – CS SOFT strives to build on solid values that are crucial for our development and success.
What are the key products and solutions that CS SOFT offers to its clients in air traffic management, and how do your ATM solutions, such as 2D and 3D simulators, improve the training of air traffic controllers?
CS SOFT offers a range of key products and solutions in air traffic management. One of the main pillars of our portfolio is air traffic management systems and associated solutions, including systems for providing air traffic control services, processing radar and flight data, and diagnosing air traffic utilization. An important part of our offering includes 2D and 3D air traffic control simulators, which provide realistic and interactive environments for practicing various scenarios and situations. These simulators allow air traffic controllers to gain practical experience in a safe environment, enhancing their readiness and efficiency in actual air traffic control.
CS Soft ATM System
CS Soft ATM System
We also develop AI-based software that helps companies better address their business challenges. An example is the aircraft maintenance software developed for our partner company JOB AIR Technic. Other software solutions focus on streamlining manufacturing processes, such as detecting inconsistencies in log files or predicting copper prices on commodity exchanges. Additionally, we are working on the next generation of our flight data processing and planning system. This new solution is built on modern technologies and a modular approach, enabling its use not only for main air traffic control systems but also as part of backup systems. We are currently participating in a tender for a backup system for a major European Airport. Overall, we continually innovate our products and services to improve safety and efficiency in air traffic management while expanding our product portfolio to better prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
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How does CS SOFT integrate cutting-edge technologies into its air traffic management systems to improve safety and efficiency? Can you mention some of your latest projects and innovations?
CS SOFT integrates cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and augmented reality (AR) to enhance safety and efficiency in air traffic management systems. AI and machine learning are particularly utilized in air traffic control simulators, creating autonomous pilot functions known as “pseudo pilots” that interact with training scenarios to improve the realism and variability of air traffic controller training.
Another key innovation is the introduction of data link services, which convert extensive voice communications between aircraft crews and controllers into text exchanges. This significantly reduces the workload for both parties, leading to increased efficiency and fewer communication errors.
We are also developing the next generation of our flight data processing and planning system, which is built on modern technologies and a modular approach. This enhances the system’s flexibility and adaptability to various client needs, making it suitable for both primary and backup air traffic control systems. Additionally, our partnership with Pocket Virtuality has led to the integration of AR in aircraft maintenance, where engineers use AR glasses to access technological procedures and manuals directly during aircraft work, increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of errors.
How do CS SOFT’s strategic partnerships enhance your capabilities and service offerings? Can you discuss recent collaborations, such as the one with Oro Navigacija for the ATC system in Palanga, and how CS SOFT addresses the major challenges facing the air traffic management industry?
Strategic partnerships play a vital role in enhancing our capabilities and expanding our service offerings. Our collaboration with Oro Navigacija for the ATC system in Palanga allowed us to implement our ALS ATM system version 3.6, which processes flight and radar data, records data link communication, and evaluates real data for safety purposes through the Safety Net subsystem. This system identifies potential conflicts in airspace and provides long-term predictions as well as immediate warnings, thereby enhancing safety.
In addition to this collaboration, we have expanded into markets in Asia and Africa, selling our solutions to Uganda and Israel, which helps us gain valuable references and experience. Addressing the industry’s major challenges, such as maintaining high safety levels while increasing efficiency, we implement technologies like data link services to improve communication accuracy and speed. Furthermore, we continually innovate by developing advanced systems based on modern technologies and modular approaches, ensuring better flexibility and adaptability to meet diverse client needs.
These strategic partnerships and our focus on innovation and quality enable us to provide top-notch solutions in air traffic management, successfully addressing the challenges and demands of the industry.
How does being part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) impact CS SOFT’s activities and development? What synergies arise from this integration?
Being part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) has a very positive impact on our activities and development. Membership in this group provides us with a stable background and broader collaboration opportunities, which would be much more challenging for an independent company to achieve. Integration into CSG has enabled us to leverage synergies with other companies in the group. For example, collaboration with companies that produce radars and other technological solutions, such as Pocket Virtuality, provides us with access to new technologies and innovative ideas. These partnerships expand our technological capabilities and enable the development of new products and services that would otherwise not be possible.
Another example of synergy is collaboration with Dako CZ, a company that manufactures brakes and other components for the railway industry. Here, we contribute our software solutions for monitoring and optimizing braking systems, bringing higher efficiency and safety. This type of collaboration illustrates how our know-how and technologies can be applied beyond the aviation sector, contributing to the diversification of our portfolio. CSG also provides strong support in business activities. The CSG Aerospace division’s commercial team, to which we belong, works intensively on expanding business opportunities and raising awareness of our products in the global market. This support is crucial for securing new contracts and strengthening our position as a significant player in air traffic management.
Mental and strategic development is another area where membership in CSG brings significant benefits. Under the guidance of experienced leaders like Mr. Klepek, we gain valuable advice and inspiration for strategic planning and development. This approach helps us better navigate the dynamic environment and prepare for future challenges. We also benefit from the cultural and organizational development that comes with membership in CSG. Integration into a larger group promotes sharing best practices, innovations, and experiences among individual companies, leading to improved internal processes and increased efficiency. Overall, being part of CSG means access to a broader range of resources, technologies, and business opportunities, allowing us to grow and thrive in a competitive environment. Integration into CSG provides not only financial and technological support but also fosters innovation, efficiency, and strategic development, which are key factors for our success.
How have your experiences as a Formula 1 commentator influenced your approach to project management at CS SOFT, and what skills from your career as a commentator have proven valuable in your current role?
My experience as a Formula 1 commentator has monumentally influenced my approach to project management at CS SOFT. Formula 1 is not just a sport; it is a technological and showbiz discipline where each team operates like a top-tier company excelling in all areas, from research and development to marketing and human resources. This complex experience taught me the importance of having a versatile team and the crucial role of collaboration among all its members. In Formula 1, you encounter all imaginable fields of professional activities. Each team must excel in all the areas it covers and have key people working harmoniously and efficiently together. This mentality helps me function in life and constantly push forward, not only myself but also my team at CS SOFT. Success requires top-level performance in every area of activity we engage in today.
The winning mentality, which is the relentless pursuit of victory and improvement, is crucial. There are two very critical phases of projects: shortly before the finish, when everyone is exhausted, and the project might hit the last obstacles, and the decision to embark on the journey and believe in it. This mentality is something I carry from Formula 1 and pass on because corporate culture is essential for achieving great things. Corporate culture is important. Empirical studies show that poor corporate culture can reduce performance by tens of percent. When we have a good corporate culture and strategy, and confidence in what we do, we cannot fail. Assembling strategy and strategic goals is challenging, but the hardest part is sticking to it all. It is about the mentality of the entire team, no matter how small or large. When you have a good leader and good leaders at lower levels, you cannot fail. If someone does not want to go with us, at least they should not stand in our way. These experiences enable me to effectively manage projects at CS SOFT, motivate the team, and constantly improve.
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What future projects or innovations is CS SOFT currently working on, where do you see the company heading in the next five to ten years, and what new trends in air traffic management is CS SOFT following?
Since May 1 of this year, I have been leading the company, and I consider it a turning point in my professional life. We are at a stage where we are pushing hard to expand our product portfolio to be diversified and provide strategic pillars for not only stability but also future development. We are working on several key innovations and projects. One of the main directions is the development of air traffic management systems, including the next generation of our flight data processing and planning system, which we are finalizing and planning to deploy at a major European airport. We are also focusing on AI-based software solutions that help companies better address their business challenges, whether it is aircraft maintenance or more efficient data handling. In terms of technological trends, we are observing gradual evolution rather than revolution, mainly due to strict regulations in the aviation industry. We are introducing data link services that significantly improve communication between aircraft crews and controllers, and we are working on integrating machine learning principles into our air traffic control simulators.
In the future, we see CS SOFT as a modern software house with a diversified product portfolio focused on critical and strategic systems and solutions. We believe that our innovations and strategies will enable us to achieve stable growth and success in the next five to ten years. I am confident that with our team’s collective experience and dedication, we can guide CS SOFT towards a bright and prosperous future.
Interviewed by Katerina Urbanová, EIC @ ACE
Photo Credit: CS Soft, Tomáš Richtr
