KCAA DG Appointed CANSO Executive Committee Chairperson

Captain Gilbert M. Kibe, currently the Director-General (DG) at Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), has been appointed the new Executive Committee Chair of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), bringing a wealth of experience in the aviation sector spanning a period of over 30 years, including four years as a member of the CANSO Executive Committee.

Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) unites 186 air traffic management (ATM) service providers and suppliers in committing to support the safe and seamless recovery of aviation through strong leadership and a new advocacy resolution.

“I am honoured to have been selected as chair of the CANSO Executive Committee. I have great faith in the ATM community and all that CANSO members have delivered in terms of transforming ATM, and I relish the task of working with industry key players across the globe to deliver a safe, seamless and sustainable future for the industry,” Captain Kibe said.

Alongside his appointment, others including Gen. Luis Rodrigues Heraldo, Director General of DECEA, and Graeme Sumner, CEO of Airways New Zealand were named as the Executive Committee members at large while Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon, and Conor Mullan, Managing Director of Think Research Ltd, were re-elected as Associate Member representatives.

Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO said, “I would like to thank the outgoing chair, Rudy Kellar, and member at large, Klaus Dieter Scheurle, for their dedication to CANSO and to welcome all our new Executive Committee members. They join a knowledgeable and experienced governance team and together will help lead CANSO and the industry in addressing key challenges and securing our future.”

During the AGM in which the appointments were announced, CANSO launched a new advocacy priority to help the industry navigate the current aviation crisis.  The commitment is to provide the policy and framework guidance to ensure the emergence of the ATM industry from the current pandemic a stronger and more resilient industry, well placed to continue to serve the evolving needs of managing safety and efficiency in our skies.

This resolution is added to CANSO’s existing priorities of enhancing the public perception of ATM; ensuring good regulatory practices; supporting operational standards that enhance ATM performance; promoting airspace modernisation for enhanced efficiency and accommodate challenges of new entrants, and supporting a collaborative approach to industry challenges.

“It has been a challenging year for us all and it is encouraging to see such a commitment to CANSO and the industry,” said Hocquard. “Our members have come together and agreed to focus on measures that will help the industry navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside our overall objective of transforming ATM. This is an important step as we redefine our future and the approach we need to take.”