SESAR 3 JU: from a complex digital ecosystem to a stable, scalable platform
Client: SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
Link: sesarju.eu
Go live: 2024
Industry: European
Partners: ‘The Others’ for the Green ATM Digital Solution Interface
The SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU) is a European public-private partnership that accelerates the modernisation of air traffic management in Europe through research and innovation, helping to realise the “Digital European Sky”.
The initiative brings together public authorities, aviation organisations and industry partners to develop advanced technological solutions for managing both conventional aircraft and new forms of aviation, such as drones and air taxis.
"ESN took over the SESAR website (sesarju.eu) in 2023. Consequently, the website was not developed using the Paddle platform but operates independently within a Drupal environment. To address this, Paddle assigned a developer to manage the website and implement the requested functionalities specific to SESAR.
The Paddle team was responsible for developing several new features, as well as the graphic design and overall improvement of the website. In April 2024, a new development phase began to prepare the website for the publication of Air Traffic Management information via a mini site."
Christine Stewart
Communications Officer
The challenge
SESAR Joint Undertaking was looking for a reliable digital partner to sustainably manage and further develop a complex ecosystem of websites, web services, digital tools and marketing solutions. In a European context, with high expectations around continuity, security and flexibility, its digital environment not only had to remain stable, but also needed to evolve smoothly in line with new communication and project needs.
The challenge lay in the combination of structural maintenance, security, Drupal updates, bug fixing and optimisations such as SEO, responsive design and Matomo statistics. At the same time, there was a need for tailor-made digital applications: from interactive interfaces and quiz modules to mini-sites and standalone functionalities within the existing platform. SESAR therefore needed a partner that could both take care of the technical side and quickly think along and develop solutions when new needs emerged.
The approach
For SESAR, we started with a thorough technical and editorial takeover of the existing platform. First, we mapped the full architecture, content structure and tooling — from Drupal and Docker to the various content types, search functionalities, webforms, news, project and document modules. We then stabilised and optimised the website step by step: analysing open issues, correcting faulty links and hardcoded URLs, reviewing the operation of forms and embedded components, and implementing a more reliable approach to hosting, monitoring and backups. At the same time, we preserved the platform’s strengths, such as its rich content architecture, flexible block structure, advanced search experience and strong document and publication management.
The result
Paddle combined technical continuity with targeted improvements, enabling SESAR to rely on a high-performing, manageable and future-oriented website.
Want to know more?
Do you want to make your digital platform as futureproof as SESAR 3 JU’s? Discover how Paddle helps you build a stable, secure and scalable website.