Safety – DG Comment
Simon Hocquard, CANSO’s Director General, says outcome-focused answers will come naturally to the correct queries.
There is no secret to our success other than asking the right question and a willingness to collaborate and share."
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Answers depend on the questions being asked. And so it is vital that – as we look ahead to a busy and productive 2025 – we understand what we are asking and why.
There is no secret to our success other than asking the right question and a willingness to collaborate and share.
In fact, our industry-leading Airspace World event is a result of asking “how do we improve collaboration in the industry?” We wanted to make sure that every player involved in air traffic management – and beyond – came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities, to learn from each other, and to create solutions that are safe, equitable and sustainable.
That same question also led us to the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) and its Global Council consisting not only of our industry partners but also those outside the industry that might help us achieve our objectives.
These two initiatives have been outstanding successes and much of the credit for that goes to all those involved who, frankly, have worked very hard to make that happened.
But I like to think the right question started the ball rolling. When you visit Airspace World in Lisbon (13-15 May) or Airspace Asia Pacific in Hong Kong (9-11 December) – and if you haven’t registered yet, I urge you do so – you will see some amazing solutions on offer. Why? Because they all asked the right questions when developing their product.
Don’t get stuck on buzzwords. And don’t walk around holding a hammer!
We must not get carried away by buzzwords. We talk of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain or machine learning. And we ask how these can improve our industry. But to paraphrase Abraham Maslow, “when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”.
So, a better way of looking at this is, “how can we improve safety?” or “how can we improve efficiency?” I think these are the right questions – not “where can AI be used?”.
We are all interested in being better – at safety, at efficiency, at reducing carbon emissions and at much more besides. How we improve is purely a means to an end. When we start to use buzzwords, the concern is that we focus on the means and the end becomes of secondary interest.
That is why so much of what you read in this issue about improving safety is so important. From safety management systems to global partnerships, CANSO is driving safety solutions that are outcome focused.
And when it comes to safety and risk mitigation, it is the outcome that matters. Even the smallest gain is vital. Our industry has an incredible safety record. Given that we are taking hundreds of people tens of thousands of feet in the air and speeding them along at close to 600mph, to be the safest form of transport is an incredible achievement.
Safety – DG Comment
Simon Hocquard, CANSO’s Director General, says outcome-focused answers will come naturally to the correct queries.
There is no secret to our success other than asking the right question and a willingness to collaborate and share.
In fact, our industry-leading Airspace World event is a result of asking “how do we improve collaboration in the industry?” We wanted to make sure that every player involved in air traffic management – and beyond – came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities, to learn from each other, and to create solutions that are safe, equitable and sustainable.
That same question also led us to the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) and its Global Council consisting not only of our industry partners but also those outside the industry that might help us achieve our objectives.
These two initiatives have been outstanding successes and much of the credit for that goes to all those involved who, frankly, have worked very hard to make that happened.
But I like to think the right question started the ball rolling. When you visit Airspace World in Lisbon (13-15 May) or Airspace Asia Pacific in Hong Kong (9-11 December) – and if you haven’t registered yet, I urge you do so – you will see some amazing solutions on offer. Why? Because they all asked the right questions when developing their product.
Don’t get stuck on buzzwords. And don’t walk around holding a hammer!
There is no secret to our success other than asking the right question and a willingness to collaborate and share."
We must not get carried away by buzzwords. We talk of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain or machine learning. And we ask how these can improve our industry. But to paraphrase Abraham Maslow, “when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”.
So, a better way of looking at this is, “how can we improve safety?” or “how can we improve efficiency?” I think these are the right questions – not “where can AI be used?”.
We are all interested in being better – at safety, at efficiency, at reducing carbon emissions and at much more besides. How we improve is purely a means to an end. When we start to use buzzwords, the concern is that we focus on the means and the end becomes of secondary interest.
That is why so much of what you read in this issue about improving safety is so important. From safety management systems to global partnerships, CANSO is driving safety solutions that are outcome focused.
And when it comes to safety and risk mitigation, it is the outcome that matters. Even the smallest gain is vital. Our industry has an incredible safety record. Given that we are taking hundreds of people tens of thousands of feet in the air and speeding them along at close to 600mph, to be the safest form of transport is an incredible achievement.
Answers depend on the questions being asked. And so it is vital that – as we look ahead to a busy and productive 2025 – we understand what we are asking and why.