Enhanced synergies between South America's (SAM) regional aviation priorities and ICAO's global strategies were a key outcome of ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar's recent advocacy in São Paulo, Brazil.
Speaking to nearly 140 participants at the Eighteenth Meeting of Civil Aviation Authorities of the SAM Region (RAAC/18), Mr. Salazar presented ICAO's recently adopted Strategic Plan for 2026-2050. The participants included Directors General of Civil Aviation, senior representatives from industry associations, and major manufacturers.
Mr. Salazar emphasized how South America's Regional Strategy aligns with this global plan. He outlined priorities such as reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050, improving passenger mobility and accessibility, and ensuring that no country is left behind.
To achieve these ambitious goals, closer collaboration will be required among the Organization, States, and industry. The Regional Safety Oversight Cooperation System (SRVSOP) serves as a key mechanism for standardization and collaborative work between States.
ICAO Regional Director for SAM, Mr. Fabio Rabbani, also issued a strong call for States to strengthen their commitments to regional initiatives that support the plan, and to accelerate implementation through more dynamic and engaging mechanisms that allow the optimization of resources and enhanced partnership.
The three-day meeting concluded on 26 February 2025. In addition to its direct implications for State policy, the meeting will inform State deliberations on the strategic development of international civil aviation at the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly in Montreal this October.
Bilateral Activities
The visit provided an opportunity for the Secretary General to enhance collaboration with key regional stakeholders, including through bilateral meetings with Directors General of Civil Aviation from the region.
Discussions focused on regional collaboration, sustainability, innovation, human resources, regulatory efficiency, and competitiveness. Capacity-building emerged as a critical topic, with States emphasizing the need for support in training, certification, and enhancing aviation oversight capabilities. The successful partnerships of SAM States with ICAO and neighboring Regions on aviation safety were highlighted.
Meetings were also held with representatives of key industry organizations. such as Airports Council International - Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), along with manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.
Additionally, the Secretary General carried out an official visit to Brasilia to undertake high-level meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira; the Commander of the Brazilian Air Force; Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, and the Board of Directors of Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC).
These engaging meetings provided ICAO with an opportunity to emphasize efforts to ensure the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the outcomes of the Organization's Transformational Objective.
The Secretary General also visited the EMBRAER assembly line in Sao Jose dos Campos, where he presented ICAO's vision to its CEO and the leadership team and learned about their perspectives of the industry on the future of the aviation system.
Throughout his activities in Brazil, the Secretary General was accompanied by Mr. Rabbani and ICAO's Regional Director for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, Mr. Christopher Barks.
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