Aviation & Aerospace

Cignus delivers end-to-end airport master planning services, from initial airport layout concept through FAA-compliant ALP updates and capital improvement program development. Our planners work directly with airport sponsors, airlines, and the FAA to develop infrastructure plans that balance operational efficiency, safety, environmental impact, and long-term growth. We integrate fast-time simulation results into master plan alternatives analysis, providing data-driven evidence for multi-billion dollar investment decisions.

Our airspace engineers design and evaluate PBN (RNAV/RNP) instrument procedures for terminal and en route environments, working with ANSPs, airlines, and regulatory authorities to ensure flyability, safety, and efficiency. We have designed procedures for airports across four continents, from the New York TRACON to the Moscow TMA to Istanbul Grand Airport, using TAAM and AirTOp simulation to validate every design against real-world traffic demand and ATC operational constraints.

Cignus team members include former ATC operations specialists and traffic flow management experts who bring real-world operational knowledge to every engagement. We provide subject matter expertise for NextGen and SESAR technology evaluations, concept of operations development, and operational feasibility assessments. Our SMEs coordinate directly with FAA facilities, ANSP towers, and airline operations centers to validate proposed changes before implementation.

Our safety practice combines data science with deep aviation domain knowledge to build platforms and analyses that identify, monitor, and mitigate operational risks. We have developed NASA-funded safety management platforms (MANOR, SafeFlight, Airport Safety Digital Twin) that use AI/ML algorithms for predictive risk analytics, and we provide traditional safety management system consulting including runway safety area analyses, safety risk assessments, and regulatory compliance support.

Cignus supports airline operations teams with flight efficiency analytics, fleet performance monitoring, and operational planning tools. Our work with Boeing Commercial Aviation Services involved processing 60,000+ daily flight data feeds to develop custom analytics applications that detect patterns in flight planning, routing, and fuel consumption across multi-year datasets. We deliver actionable insights that help airlines reduce operating costs while maintaining safety and on-time performance.

Cignus conducts environmental impact assessments for proposed airport improvements, including detailed noise contour modeling, air quality dispersion analysis, and fuel burn calculations using the FAA Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). Our environmental team works alongside our simulation engineers to produce flight-track-based noise studies that use actual simulated trajectories rather than generic assumptions, delivering more accurate and defensible environmental documentation.