The CANSO Congress

By 2026, it is forecast that aviation will contribute one trillion USD to the world’s GDP per year. This is more than double the 425 billion USD it contributes today, and clearly demonstrates the increasingly important role that aviation plays in supporting the global economy. However, this relies on the provision of a safe, efficient and cost effective Air Traffic Management (ATM) system that is capable of serving increasing growth.

Air navigation service providers (ANSPs), together with their airline and airport partners, are an integral part of the global aviation system. They are responsible for ensuring that the future ATM system is fit for purpose, while at the same time, meeting market demand and continuing to provide a safe, efficient and cost effective service to their customers – the airspace users.

This is not an easy task. Airspace is a finite resource and there are only so many aircraft that can safely fly through the same section of sky at any one time. ANSPs also face a myriad of political, technical and human resources challenges that can, at times, stand in the way of progress.

So what is being done to address these challenges? According to ICAO, 120 billion USD will be spent globally on improving air transport systems over the next 10 years. This is a huge investment but it only tells a part of the story. CANSO’s vision is the transformation of Global ATM Performance. Our 130 Members, both ANSPs and industry suppliers, are already developing new operational procedures, investigating new technologies, and pro moting new policies aimed at delivering increased ATM capacity and efficiency through the work of our Operation, Safety and Policy Standing Committees.

Airports also have a vital role to play. For example, any airport which operates close to, or at its runway capacity has far greater potential to impact inbound and outbound traffic flows. Only so many aircraft can use a single runway in a given time period, so if the number of aircraft exceeds the capacity, the result will be ATM delays.

Airports and ANSPs are therefore natural partners, but collaboration does not simply happen by itself. We have already seen tremendous progress though the imple – mentation of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), for example, but much more needs to be done and going forward and we will be working closely with our colleagues at ACI. It is up to us as industry leaders to provide new opportunities to work together and drive the change that is needed.

This was the conclusion at the CANSO ATM Summit and AGM in Bangkok at the beginning of 2011, when the world’s aviation leaders called on CANSO, the global voice of ATM, to rise to the challenge and deliver a step change in ANSP performance.

Providing opportunities for greater collaboration is one of the major motivating factors behind CANSO’s decision to launch our new flagship event for the ATM industry. The CANSO World ATM Congress in association with ATCA, or ‘CANSO World’ for short, was announced in October 2011 to much accolade and applause from aviation stakeholders all over the globe.

CANSO World will combine a first class conference and exhibition that leverages the knowledge and experience of CANSO’s membership, as well as our industry partners. It will bring together leaders and experts from ANSPs, industry suppliers, airlines, airports, air traffic controllers, other associations and industry bodies to focus on furthering their common goal: supporting the continued growth of air transport through the development of a safe, efficient and cost effective ATM system.

Before launching CANSO World we undertook extensive consultation with our members. They told us that there was a demand for an event ‘run by the industry, for the industry’, with thought leadership content providing excellent networking opportunities and exploring the key issues impacting on our industry.

We are also listening to our partners. Aviation is a globally interdependent industry, so the input of the world’s airports and airlines is invaluable if we are to transform the ATM system together. Indeed, this is also the view of ACI World Director General Angela Gittens who has lent her support to the event.

CANSO World will take place each year in Madrid starting in February 2013. The conference will build on the solid foundations of CANSO’s thought leadership activities in the areas of ATM safety, environment, operations and policy. The 18,000m2 exhibition will provide a global forum to meet, discuss and explore the latest trends and developments in ATM.

Furthermore, the annual CANSO CEO Conference and ATM Dinner, as well as the CANSO Operations Conference will be co-located with CANSO World in Madrid, ensuring the best possible value-for-money for those attending. And crucially, because of the not-for-profit status of CANSO and our partners ATCA, CANSO World is uniquely positioned to re-invest any surplus back into the industry, helping to transform ATM performance.

The launch of CANSO World is a significant milestone for the ATM industry and I have been both delighted and encouraged by the positive comments we have received so far. As well as support from the CEOs from ANSPs and leading industry suppliers, our partner organisations such as IATA and ACI as I mentioned above, have also lent their full and public endorsement.

The inaugural CANSO World will be held in Madrid on February 12-14, 2013 and I look forward to seeing you there.

About the Author

Paul Riemens (49) is Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Luchtverkeersleiding (LVNL), the Air Traffic Control organisation in the Netherlands. He has significant industry expertise; with more than 25 years’ experience in progressively senior Air Traffic Management roles. As Vice Chair of the FABEC ANSP Strategy Board, Mr Riemens also has hands on experience in bringing together multiple ANSPs to pursue common objectives. Mr Riemens became Chairman of the CANSO Executive Committee at the association’s AGM in Bangkok in June 2011.