FLIGHTKEYS Research and Development
At the R&D Department, we're not just thinking outside the box — we’re redesigning the box, testing it, and then implementing it into practice. Our Research & Development Team is the engine behind cutting-edge aviation software dealing with contrail avoidance, next-gen flight planning solutions, exploring bold ideas, funding opportunities, and collaborative innovation across Europe and beyond.
FK is a research-driven venture, permanently re-inventing ourselves with innovation and new areas of operation. We are proud of our fast track from basic research to implementation, utilizing the wide range of experience and interests of our team members. While the core research team is focusing on exploring new ideas, all FK employees share the passion for new and unorthodox solutions. FK is investing continuously into innovation and funds research through international projects and cooperations, as well as internal spending.
We engage in close cooperations with scientific organisations and our customers to pursue research projects.
Although we are listening carefully to our customer’s requests, we try hard to be solution- and research-driven along Henry Ford’s quote “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
The Team
FLIGHTKEY’s Research and Development core team covers a broad spectrum of expertise, generations and backgrounds
Raimund Zopp
Director of Innovation
From cockpit to code, Raimund Zopp brings over 30 years of flying experience and a pioneering spirit for innovation in aviation. As Director of Innovation at FLIGHTKEYS, he’s driving the future of sustainable flight planning—from contrail mitigation to next-generation operations.
Alejandra Martin Frias
Head of Sustainability and Contrail Research
Alejandra, Head of Sustainability at FLIGHTKEYS and a PhD candidate in aerospace engineering, is turning contrail science into real-world strategy. With expertise in air traffic management and a passion for climate-conscious aviation, she’s helping make sustainable flight the new standard.
Larissa Houston
Research and Development Project Manager
​Larissa, our R&D Project Manager at FLIGHTKEYS, blends legal expertise, economic strategy, and research rigor to drive innovation with purpose. With a PhD in Public Law and Political Science and a focus on sustainability, she’s shaping projects that turn climate policy into actionable aviation solutions.
Thomas Adler
Machine Learning Researcher
Thomas, PhD in Artificial Intelligence and seasoned software engineer, brings a rare mix of scientific precision and practical experience to our R&D team. At FLIGHTKEYS, he’s harnessing machine learning to turn complex aviation data into smarter, more efficient flight operations.