Curtains come down on CANSO Africa Conference 2025

By Isaac OGANGA

The CANSO Africa Conference 2025 comes to an end today in Nairobi, Kenya, which brought together aviation leaders, regulators, and innovators from across the region and beyond to chart the future of air traffic management (ATM).

The conference explored how Africa can align its airspace modernisation with global aviation strategies.

Themed “Future Skies for Africa: Enhancing Alignment, Collaboration, and Implementation,” the conference will address opportunities for harmonization with CANSO’s Vision 2045 and the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Concept of Operations (CONOPS), as well as ICAO’s evolving frameworks.

“As Africa positions itself in the global aviation transformation, collaboration is essential,” said Thabani Myeza, CANSO Director Africa Affairs. “The CANSO Africa Conference 2025 is about connecting vision with action, and ensuring Africa’s skies are ready for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”

“This conference provides a platform to bring Africa’s unique strengths into the global roadmap for future skies,” added Tim Arel, Chair of the CANSO Executive Committee. “By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and leadership, we can collectively ensure a safer, more efficient, and future-ready aviation system.”

Echoing this, Emil Rogers, Secretary General of Roberts FIR and AFC3 Deputy Chair, noted: “Africa has a powerful role to play in shaping the global future of ATM. This conference allows us to reflect, innovate, and drive meaningful progress together.”

Over three days, participants:

• Explored how Africa can contribute to and benefit from the Complete Air

Traffic System (CATS) Vision 2045.

• Aligned regional ATM priorities with global strategies while reflecting local

needs.

• Examined how automation, digitalisation, and performance-based

approaches can elevate ATM performance.

• Strengthened safety culture and leadership in shaping the next generation of

aviation professionals.

• Co-created building blocks of a regional sub-roadmap to connect Africa’s

ATM transformation to global initiatives.