Legal experts will gather in London to tackle aviations future challenges

Montréal, 26 November 2024 – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority will bring together the world's leading aviation legal experts in London this week to address critical challenges facing the industry, from artificial intelligence regulation to sustainability frameworks.  

Chief executives, director generals, and legal officials from across the global aviation sector will shape new approaches to safety, security, and innovation during the three-day summit. 

The Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum (CALAF/3), to be held from 26 to 28 November 2024, will be hosted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of ICAO. 

ICAO's Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Chief Executive Rob Bishton will open proceedings, with the regulator's Chair Sir Stephen Hillier to welcome delegates at a reception on Monday, 25 November. 

"The Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum has emerged as a leading international event for informing the legal regulatory frameworks that will guide aviation's transformation worldwide. I am confident that the discussions in London will address critical questions around artificial intelligence, sustainability and enforcement – legal work that is fundamental to enabling innovation while maintaining aviation's exemplary safety standards,” said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General. 

“ICAO is grateful to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for its leadership in hosting this significant event and bringing together such expertise from across the global aviation community. That these discussions coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Chicago Convention reminds us how international aviation law has consistently evolved to meet new challenges while remaining anchored by its founding principles." 

The forum will feature discussions on legal and regulatory best practices shaping the future of international aviation, with input from industry, academia, and legal practitioners. Panel discussions will address sustainability and innovation (including artificial intelligence), enforcing air navigation regulations, cooperative mechanisms for aviation safety and the use of safety information in judicial proceedings. 

As the event coincides with ICAO's 80th Anniversary of the signing of the Chicago Convention, it will feature a commemorative panel discussion marking this milestone in international aviation law.  

"As we gather for the Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum, I am reminded of the pivotal role that legal advisors play in the aviation sector. Their expertise means that our regulations are robust, and our industry is compliant with international standards,” said Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.  

“This year, we also celebrate the 80th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization signing the Chicago Convention. For more than eight decades, ICAO has been at the forefront of fostering global aviation safety, security, and sustainability. Its unwavering commitment has been instrumental in shaping the aviation landscape we know today. As we look to the future, the continued partnership between regulators, industry and ICAO will be crucial in navigating the challenges and opportunities ahead." 

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A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) leads the international alignment of technical standards and strategies, facilitating the safe, secure, and sustainable development of its 193 member states' aviation sectors and air services. This year, ICAO is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its establishment by the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation. 

  

William Raillant-Clark 

Communications Officer