In the ever-evolving aviation landscape, shaping the skies of tomorrow is a paramount undertaking that requires collaborative efforts, innovative thinking, and a shared commitment to safety and sustainability. We need to bring together aviation leaders, experts, and stakeholders from around the globe to explore the key issues and cutting-edge technologies that will define the future of air navigation.
As the aviation industry rebuilds following the global pandemic and embraces the challenges of achieving net-zero carbon emissions, events provide an unparalleled platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and visionary insight. This week a unique gathering is taking place in Singapore. The objective of the Air Navigation World 2023 ATM Procedures for Today event in Singapore is to facilitate global air traffic management (ATM) implementation through focused knowledge-sharing of mature, tried and tested ATM procedures in a practical how-to manner.
This event provides opportunities and a foundation for States and air transport service (ATS) providers to make important choices for performance improvement. The sessions are looking at the current technologies and procedures that support the evolution of ATM so that we can meet the expectations of the aviation community. We are looking to the future, in line with the long-term global aspirational goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
We will be sharing the Air Navigation World 2023 Singapore sessions on ICAO TV as soon as they are available. What we can share with you right now is ICAO’s 2023 Air Navigation World event which took place from 28 – 31 August 2023 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal. The recordings for this event, where we addressed key issues and explored cutting-edge technologies in air navigation and safety are available on ICAO TV. We brought together 639 industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to enhance innovation and resilience while ensuring the utmost priority on safety and efficiency, these were important topics to cover.
The central theme of the event was “Shaping the Skies of Tomorrow: Addressing Key Issues and Technologies in Air Navigation and Safety.” This theme garnered stakeholder insights for enhancing the organization’s innovation and resilience while augmenting synergies between efficiency and safety. At the heart of this event was the shared vision to bring about the collective long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by 2050. This bold ambition prompted discussions on future technologies and procedures that would facilitate the evolution of the aviation system while meeting the expectations of the global aviation community.
We kicked off ANW Montréal with a session that encouraged exchanging views and identifying initiatives necessary to advance air navigation planning and implementation in an ever-changing aviation environment. The focus revolved around performance improvements amid resource constraints, global environmental challenges in aviation and the rapid development of aviation operations and technologies that could contribute to achieving the long-term goal of net-zero carbon emission by 2050.
ICAO was fortunate to host influential industry leaders as speakers at this event, including figures like Kim Miller, President and CEO of the International Aviation Safety Foundation and Thomas Romig, Vice President of Safety in the Security and Operations team at the Airports Council International (ACI). These leaders, among others, provided valuable insights that resonated with the attendees.
Throughout the four days, numerous industry professionals and experts addressed topics, including Complex Socio-Technical Systems, Electronic Certificates and Documents, and NOTAM Replacements. These discussions aimed to tackle the operational and implementation challenges of air navigation and safety solutions. A prevalent message throughout many sessions was the need for exchanging timely and accurate data to better support new operational concepts.
Two key topics emerged as the most popular subjects of discussion from our ICAO survey: Performance-Based Aerodrome Operating Minima (PBAOM) and aerodromes in the broader sense. Sessions on PBAOM delved into operators, Air Traffic Management (ATM), and aerodromes. Meanwhile, discussions about Aerodromes covered planning, capacity, resilience, upcoming standards, and future needs.
PBAOM and aerodrome discussions highlighted the introduction of new aircraft with design upgrades and more efficient and environmentally friend fuels for airport operations and infrastructure. The discussions also explored the growing demand for increased aviation system capacity in a resilient manner without losing focus on the LTAG objectives.
There were discussions on the upcoming aerodrome regulations and providing operational flexibility and efficiency without compromising safety. It was evident that a collaborative approach is necessary to navigate a smooth and orderly transition. Another recurring theme across all sessions was the challenge of regulatory change processes keeping pace with advancing technology. While performance-based regulations were identified as a solution, they introduce their own challenges, including industry compliance and regulatory acceptance.
Modern safety approaches were also spotlighted, offering opportunities for addressing the new challenges posed by the evolving complexity of the aviation system. These approaches need to be carefully explored to avoid any unintended consequences and to ensure they complement proven safety approaches. Collaboration between industry and regulators to explore the use of these approaches in regulatory approval processes was encouraged, emphasizing the need for a safe environment for operational personnel.
In addition to the sessions, a variety of SkyTalks were delivered by sponsors and industry professionals, covering topics such as ATM systems, risk assessments and the role of artificial intelligence. The informative talks from Thales, Indra, Startical, NAVCANADA, Aireon and La Isla provided valuable knowledge into the developments and products available in the aviation industry. To learn more on what was said, we’ve shared 40 episodes of SkyTalks as well as sessions from the Air Navigation World event for on-demand viewing on ICAO TV.
The ICAO Air Navigation World 2023 event provided a platform for discussing modern approaches to safety and the risks associated with increased automation and complex human system interactions. Among the many topics, we addressed medical patient transport and air ambulance operations and balancing personal and mental health with aviation safety. We covered age limitations, the evolution of medical certificates, aerodrome planning, helicopter safety and adviced aircraft operations. Attendees left this event ready to influence policy and decision-making on the technical and operational aspects of the aviation industry. This event marked a significant step towards a more sustainable and innovative future for global aviation.
