The aim of the FP6 TIMECOP-AE project (2006–2010) was to improve the necessary combustion prediction methods that enable the development of practical advanced combustion systems for future engines, with reduced emission levels and fuel consumption. Predictive tools are required to be able to reduce NOx emissions, to decrease the development time and costs of new combustion systems and to improve the operability of lean-burn combustion systems. Most promising approaches to satisfy future emission levels regulations are based on lean combustion technology. However, lean combustion compromises combustor operability, including ignition, altitude re-light, pull-away, weak extinction performance and thermo-acoustic instability behaviour. Therefore it is of prime importance to evaluate the behaviour of the flame during these transient phases in the design stage and modelling tools are required. Without these tools the development of advanced combustion systems relies on many costly and time consuming rig tests. The high-fidelity simulations proposed in TIMECOP-AE are therefore a way to increase our competitiveness.