New conference and trade show is being organized jointly by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (Canso) and Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA).

The two leading air traffic management (ATM) industry groups are planning to launch an annual conference that they expect will become the major ATM meeting on the industry calendar.

The new conference and trade show is being organized jointly by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (Canso) and Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA). It will be called the Canso World ATM Congress and is set to debut Feb. 12-14, 2013, in Madrid. This will undoubtedly clash with the long-running ATC Global conference that is held every year in early March in Amsterdam, which promotes itself as the major global ATM event.

Graham Lake, group’s director general of Canso says, "Has not set out t compete with ATC Global, the focus is on Canso fulfilling its obligation to the ATM industry. This is not about competing with another trades show, this is about doing something that this industry needs.”

Lake says the impetus for the new conference came from Canso’s members, which are primarily air navigation service providers (ANSPs). “There has been a feeling among the members for some time that Canso should manage the big conferences and events for the industry,” he says.

A major aim in establishing the conference is to enable the industry to set the agenda and ensure that it generates the discussions it needs, says Lake. However, another factor is that conferences of this magnitude bring in a lot of revenue. “Our members feel that if they are to invest money in [a conference], it should go back into the industry.”

Lake points out that if Canso is to expand and do a better job of representing its members’ interests, it can either raise fees or look for other income sources.

Canso and ATCA say in a statement that they expect their conference to be “the definitive annual event for ATM.” Lake says the intention is for this to be the largest ATM conference, and “we would be disappointed if we didn’t achieve that.” However, he also notes that “it isn’t about size, it’s about doing the right thing for our industry.” 

As well as ANSP CEOs, nearly 20 companies and ATM organizations have expressed their support or “registered an interest in exhibiting,” says Canso. All of the big aerospace manufacturers in Europe and the U.S. are on this list. The International Air Transport Association and Airports Council International have also made statements in support of the Canso conference.