CANSO reaffirms commitment to ATM recovery

Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) unites 186 air traffic management (ATM) service providers and suppliers in committing to support the safe and seamless recovery of aviation through strong leadership and a new advocacy resolution.

At its virtual 24th Annual General Meeting, CANSO announced the appointment of a new Executive Committee chair, Captain Gilbert Macharia Kibe, who currently serves as Director General of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Captain Kibe has a wealth of experience in the aviation sector spanning a period of over 30 years, including four years as a member of the CANSO Executive Committee.

Captain Kibe, Director General of KCAA said: “I am honoured to have been selected as chair of the CANSO Executive Committee. I have great faith in the ATM community and all that CANSO members have delivered in terms of transforming ATM, and I relish the task of working with industry key players across the globe to deliver a safe, seamless and sustainable future for the industry.”

Other key appointments include Gen. Luis Rodrigues Heraldo, Director General of DECEA, and Graeme Sumner, CEO of Airways New Zealand, as Executive Committee members at large. Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon, and Conor Mullan, Managing Director of Think Research Ltd, have also been re-elected as Associate Member representatives.

Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO, said: “I would like to thank outgoing chair, Rudy Kellar, and member at large, Klaus Dieter Scheurle, for their dedication to CANSO. I would also like to welcome all our new Executive Committee members. They join a knowledgeable and experienced governance team, and together will help lead CANSO and the industry in addressing key challenges and securing our future. Such strong leadership and collaboration is essential in helping ATM and the aviation industry more broadly build back better and stronger than ever.”

During the AGM, CANSO also launched a new advocacy priority to help the industry navigate the current aviation crisis. The commitment is to provide the policy and framework guidance to ensure the emergence of the ATM industry from the current pandemic a stronger and more resilient industry, well placed to continue to serve the evolving needs of managing safety and efficiency in our skies.

This resolution is added to CANSO’s existing priorities of enhancing the public perception of ATM; ensuring good regulatory practices; supporting operational standards that enhance ATM performance; promoting airspace modernisation for enhanced efficiency and to accommodate challenges of new entrants; and supporting a collaborative approach to industry challenges.

“It has been a challenging year for us all and it is encouraging to see such a commitment to CANSO and the industry,” said Hocquard. “Our members have come together and agreed to focus on measures that will help the industry navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside our overall objective of transforming ATM. This is an important step as we redefine our future and the approach we need to take.“