World ATM Congress lands safely in Madrid

The World Air Traffic Management (ATM) Congress returned to Madrid, Spain, at the end of October 2021. Kenes Group organised the event which attracted 6,000 delegates from 110 countries. More than 170 companies exhibited and there were 120 sessions with 200 speakers spread out in seven theatres. The three days, 26-28 October, included product demonstrations and launches, contract closures, and network building. The event hosted product developers, air navigation service providers (ANSPs), air traffic controllers, and leading academic experts. King Felipe VI of Spain inaugurated the show and told attendees: “Spain is a gateway to the world, so air transport has huge strategic and economic importance throughout the country. And nothing exemplifies that more than being able to host World ATM Congress. “Being able to organise this conference once again is solid proof that we are witnessing steady and sustained recovery of the entire air sector, of which Spain is a standard bearer.” The topics discussed at the event focused on ensuring the sector’s resilience around factors such as pandemics, weather, political issues, and the development of more digital systems. Greener aviation and solutions that provide more precise route planning and traffic management to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, were also topics of interest on the show floor. The World ATM Congress co-located with an additional drone event, Expodrónica, which partnered with UMILES, a Spanish consortium of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) companies. Isabel Buatas, director of Expodrónica, stated: “The energy coming from the drone industry has meant that in less than a decade it has gone from being a product for the leisure industry to be the solution concerning safety, emergencies or rescue services.” The event was organised with a hygiene protocol. Organisers requested either a Covid-19 certificate or a negative test to permit visitors and exhibitors to the venue, while also offering contactless registration.