EUROCAE Symposium Brings Together Industry Leaders to Advance Aviation Standards
Aviation professionals from across the globe participated in the EUROCAE Symposium on 23 and 24 April in Madrid, marking the third time Spain has hosted this prestigious event since EUROCAE’s foundation in 1963.

EUROCAE successfully hosted its 2025 Symposium on 23 and 24 April at the El Beatriz Auditorium in Madrid, Spain. This flagship event attracted more than 150 esteemed professionals, including specialised experts and industry leaders from Europe and beyond.

Reflecting on the Symposium’s objectives, Anna von Groote, Director General of EUROCAE, stated: “Our goal was to gather insights, strategies, and visions from a diverse range of aviation stakeholders, bringing together experts and representatives from European and international institutions, as well as various industry sectors”.

The event was officially opened by EUROCAE’s President, Guillaume Roger, Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) Director, Montserrat Mestres, and Enrique Maurer, General Director of the Spanish Air Navigation Service Provider ENAIRE. They each highlighted the critical role of aviation standards in ensuring safety and acknowledged the significance of the aviation sector in Spain.

Summary of the Sessions:

Panel 1 – Transformation to Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO):

Speakers: Viktor Jagasits (EUROCONTROL), Carol Huegel (RTCA), Jorge Mínguez (INDRA), Heiko Teper (SESAR Deployment Manager), & Javier López (Boeing).

A dynamic panel discussion on Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) concluded on a high note, offering attendees valuable insights into the future of air traffic management. The conversation highlighted TBO’s potential to enhance airspace capacity, reduce delays, minimise fuel consumption, and improve overall safety. The session closed by underlining the critical role of standardisation in turning this vision into reality and accelerating the global implementation of TBO to ensure its benefits are realised across the aviation community.

Panel 2 – Human – AI Teaming:

Speakers: Renée Pelchen-Medwed (EASA), Gernot Konrad (Honeywell), Corinne Gingins (Skyguide), Gary Brown (Airbus), & Adrien Metge (Collins Aerospace).

This panel brought together a mix of regulators, industry leaders, and R&D experts to explore the human factors of artificial intelligence (AI), guided by insights from the EASA AI Concept Papers Level 1 and 2. The discussion offered valuable perspectives on the industry’s progress and its readiness for AI integration. Key topics included certification and operational challenges, as well as envisioning a future in which AI can safely operate alongside human involvement in safety-critical roles — with a strong focus on the safety, regulatory, and operational implications of such a transformation.

Panel 3 – Advancing ATM Ground Equipment Certification:

Speakers: Pascal Rohault (Thales), Andrea Gartemann (DFS/CANSO), Nikos Fistas (EUROCONTROL), Manuel Rivas Vila (EASA), & Juan Luis Diz (INDRA).

Representing key stakeholders in ATM Ground Equipment Certification, our panelists highlighted the important themes of harmonised implementation, a pragmatic and agile approach and the importance of industry-wide collaboration as the ATM Conformity Assessment Framework matures. With both opportunities and challenges ahead, the panel looked to how these themes could be best reflected in the future activities of all stakeholders to deliver optimal outcomes for all.

Panel 4 – Shaping Tomorrow’s Airports:

Speakers: Aidan Flanagan (ACI Europe), Roy Posern (Fraport), Ismail Polat (Dubai Airports), Jean-Marc Flon (Groupe ADP), & Karl-Heinz Keller (SITA).

This panel of experts in airport operations discussed some of the innovations underway or in planning to enhance airport capacity, resiliance and sustainability in the face of increasing growth of air traffic, and the expectations of the community at large. The opportunities available to both well-established airports as well as new airport developments were explored, with total airport management a consistent theme for future gains in productivity and the customer experience, for both passengers and airlines.

Panel 5 – IAS Operations: From Concept to Implementation:

Speakers: Daniel García-Monteavaro (ENAIRE), Daniel Molina (Bluenest), Fabien Bouyssou (CRISALION), Javier García Romillo (Anzen), & Diego Fernández (Wing).

Participants highlighted the challenges of integrating new airspace users and shared concepts and prototypes for Innovative Air Mobility. The discussion addressed gaps in current regulation and explored key safety challenges. The panel also proposed solutions for the necessary infrastructure and the seamless integration of air taxis into existing airspace systems. Notably, Spanish companies and regulators are taking the lead in VTOL operations, with the first European flight of this kind taking place earlier this year in Benidorm.

Panel 6 – Aviation and Climate Effects: Balancing Environmental Protection with Resilience in a Changing World:

Speakers: Nicolas Rivaben (World Meteorological Organization), David Alexander (SAE International), Eric Maury (Airbus), Rachel Burbidge (EUROCONTROL), Michael Nachtigaeller (Lufthansa)
Panelists engaged in a thorough discussion on how the aviation industry can strike a balance between environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change. They explored the potential of technologies such as low-carbon fuels and electric propulsion to reduce aviation’s environmental impact, while also addressing the industry’s need to adapt to climate-related risks, including extreme weather events and rising temperatures.

In addition, the EUROCAE Symposium featured insightful Flash Talks on key topics:

• Bridging the Gap Between Military and Civilian Aviation (Stephen Hanson – NATO)
• Transforming Air Traffic Control through AI (Marc Baumgartner – IFATCA)
• The role of LDACS for Future Datalink Applications (Bernhard Haindl – Frequentis)
• Aligning Priorities: A Conversation with IATA (Jaime del Molino – IATA)
• Supporting Ambitious EU Space Programmes (Ignacio Alcantarilla – DG DEFIS)
• In What Ways is ICAO Shaping the Foundation of Aviation’s Future? (Michele Merkle and Frédéric Malaud – ICAO).
• Sustainability Sandbox (Antoine Martin – ATM Expert, and Jan Petter Steinland – Norway CAA).

“EUROCAE will carefully analyse the conclusions from the Symposium and work closely with our Council and Technical Advisory Committee to refine our strategy and identify new standardisation needs that emerge from these discussions to support our members and the global aviation community”, concluded Guillaume Roger, EUROCAE President.

Symposium Highlights: Appointment of New Council Members and EUROCAE Award Recipients

The EUROCAE General Assembly convened on 23 April during the Symposium, where members endorsed the activity report and strategic plans for the coming year. Additionally, new Council members were elected.

The newly appointed Council met on 24 April, electing Guillaume Roger, DGAC, as President, Michael Holzbauer, Frequentis, and Thomas Buchanan, Skyguide, as Vice-Presidents, and Benoit Gadefait, Safran, as Treasurer of the organisation.

Furthermore, the Symposium provided an excellent platform to honour the contributions of experts who have played a key role in aviation standardisation. The 2025 EUROCAE Award Winners were:

• Best Contribution Award: Christophe Ouzeau (Collins Aerospace)
• WG Leadership Award: Luc Emberger (Airbus)
• Global Harmonisation Award: Sarah Stern (Boeing)
• International Award: Steve Bellingham (NAV Canada)
• Women in EUROCAE Award: Amanda Hoprich (AVMET Applications)
• Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumously): Ross Hannan (Aeronautique Associates Limited)
• President’s Award: Bruno Ayral (Thales LAS France)

Looking Ahead to Dublin 2026

EUROCAE announced that its 2026 Symposium will take place in Dublin, Ireland, on 22-23 April 2026. This marks the second time since EUROCAE’s foundation in 1963 that this annual event will be hosted in Ireland.

EUROCAE extends its sincere gratitude to all sponsors and partners whose support was instrumental in making the Symposium a resounding success.