System Wide Information Management (SWIM)

Supporting the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

System Wide Information Management (SWIM) is the standards, infrastructure and governance that enables ATM related information to be discoverable, accessible and usable across Air Traffic Management (ATM) and emerging Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) services.

By creating a consistent, standards-based approach to data exchange, SWIM supports the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) and maintains alignment with ICAO’s Global Air Navigation Plan. It underpins a more connected, digital, and interoperable aviation system.

What SWIM does

SWIM provides the digital foundation that allows all parts of the aviation system to connect and share information safely.

It benefits the system through:

Better access to accurate information that support safe, coordinated operations.
Common standards that will reduce duplication and improve interoperability.
Creating the digital environment needed for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and new airspace services.
Ensuring the UK remains interoperable with global aviation systems.

SWIM is not a single IT platform or product. It is a framework that defines how information is shared, not where it sits.

Where we are now

In October 2026, we published our Preliminary Draft SWIM consultation. The consultation requests feedback on the following artefacts:

This consultation is the first formal opportunity for industry to help us shape the implementation of SWIM in the UK. We are seeking honest and constructive feedback on the proposed direction of travel and wish to hear from stakeholders on the components needed, and the SWIM guidance you are looking for to support the transition to a fully digital, information-centric aviation ecosystem. The consultation closes on 06 January 2027.

Looking ahead

We recognise that the SWIM Implementation Framework and supporting artefacts will need to evolve over time as SWIM matures and adoption expands across the aviation ecosystem. We intend to continue developing and refining the SWIM Implementation Framework through consultation, stakeholder engagement and implementation experience, with the aim of publishing formal V1 documentation in 2028. This is expected to align with a rulemaking task to amend air traffic management (ATM) / air navigation services (ANS) requirements to support the implementation of SWIM in the UK, including requirements relating to the establishment of a UK SWIM Implementation Framework and its application by relevant stakeholders.

In addition, we are aiming to publish the SWIM Technical Architecture and Operational Scenarios for crewed aviation users in 2027.  

More details will be shared via our website as the work progresses.