World ATM Congress 2019 opened this morning at IFEMA, Feria de Madrid. With expected attendance of over 8,000 people from around the globe, including 253 exhibitors and 200+ speakers, the world’s largest air traffic management (ATM) event will tackle key industry issues.
These include expanding airspace capacity, managing drone traffic, and recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of people with the right skills for future ATM needs. The event showcases the latest products, services, and thought-leadership in ATM.
Pedro Saura García, Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing and ENAIRe President, opened the Conference of World ATM Congress. He highlighted that in the 75th anniversary year of the Chicago Convention, the aviation community had developed significantly but that there are important challenges on the horizon. He remarked that ATM plays an important role in the aviation value chain and that strong partnerships and integration are key.
Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, went on to explore the global picture of ATM and key challenges and opportunities for Europe. Sara De La Rosa, seconded by UNICEF to Interagency Supply Chain Group (ISG), then talked about the vital use of remotely piloted vehicles in development and humanitarian aid.
Tomorrow’s special guest speaker is Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe solo in a single-engine aircraft, followed by a discussion on attracting and retaining women and millennials in ATM. A panel of key industry figures and stakeholders discussing improving airspace capacity will close the two-day Conference Programme.
World ATM Congress brings different stakeholders together to explore all users’ airspace requirements.
“This is the ATM event of the year, where we meet dozens and dozens of customers from around the globe and contribute to the industry dialogue on pressing topics such as UTM, cybersecurity, traffic flow management, and diversity and inclusion in the workforce,” said Thales Vice President of Digital Aviation (ATM) Todd Donovan, a member of the Voice of UTM panel.