ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar to Lead Keynote at Aviation Safety Summit

ICAO Secretary General to Open the Aviation Safety Summit

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is set to have its Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) 79th Annual International Aviation Safety Summit. This significant event is scheduled to take place from November 10 to November 12, 2026, at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

In his keynote address on the first day of the summit, Salazar will focus on the pressing theme: "Is Aviation Really Ready to Scale Safely? Leadership for Growth, Complexity, and Disruption." According to Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, Salazar's insights will be of great relevance as the aviation industry grapples with rapid expansion and increasing operational complexities. He emphasizes that the keynote will encourage leaders in aviation to rethink their strategies, placing safety at the forefront of all operational decisions.

The summit is expected to attract over 350 attendees, including prominent speakers and panelists who are experts in the aviation field. The agenda is packed with discussions around vital topics such as how the aviation sector can safely grow despite the turbulence of modern challenges, including technology disruptions and market fluctuations.

Following the keynote, an executive panel of industry leaders will engage in discussions about building trust in safety protocols and enhancing accountability in an environment where growth ambitions often conflict with operational realities. Notable discussions will cover the scaling of workforce capabilities without compromising safety margins, the integration of cutting-edge air mobility solutions, and utilizing artificial intelligence for improving safety management.

Another exciting part of the conference will be a series of breakout sessions on Day 2, which will delve deeper into issues such as mitigating recurring safety incidents and preparing the aviation infrastructure for a future that’s rapidly evolving. Engaging workshop-like sessions will follow these panels, allowing attendees to interactively address priorities and challenges faced by the industry.

The summit will also feature insights from leading speakers on utilizing data to transform safety intelligence and navigate the complexities of an increasingly busy airspace, which includes accommodating commercial space operations. This overarching goal of the summit is to equip participants with the knowledge and strategies necessary for addressing the challenges that lie ahead in the aviation sector.

For those interested in attending, the FSF invites participants to check the IASS 2026 webpage for the latest updates on the agenda, featured speakers, and registration details. The Flight Safety Foundation, an influential nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing aviation safety through research, education, and outreach, is at the helm of this critical gathering.

As the aviation industry looks ahead, the insights gathered at this summit may serve as a crucial foundation for tackling the complexities of growth and ensuring that safety remains the core tenet of all advancements in flight operations.