Aviation Security in Focus: EUROCAE and RTCA Joint Summit Draws 400 Global Experts

Hundreds of participants from across the globe gathered for the "Aviation Security Summit" on 23 October 2024, uniting top experts and key stakeholders in the aviation industry to address the critical issue of aviation security.

EUROCAE and RTCA are both dedicated to ensuring the right balance between security and safety, emphasizing the importance of a robust and trusted framework. Acknowledging that security is only as strong as its weakest link, the summit tackled challenges throughout the entire aviation ecosystem, spanning the full product lifecycle.

"The event provided a valuable platform to hear directly from and collaborate with global security experts and professionals, ensuring that our standards development efforts continue to evolve in line with the industry's needs", says Anna von Groote, Director General at EUROCAE. “EUROCAE and RTCA are fully committed to supporting standardisation activities, enabling us to collectively tackle and overcome the challenges facing the aviation sector”.

Summary of sessions:

This panel provided an in-depth analysis of the diverse cybersecurity challenges facing the aviation industry today. Experts discussed not only the well-known risks but also emerging threats that are increasingly sophisticated. The conversation emphasized the need for continuous collaboration across all sectors, from ground operations to aircraft systems, to safeguard aviation security.

 

This session explored the complex relationship between maintaining operational safety while addressing evolving security threats. Experts delved into key issues such as spoofing, jamming, and the role of stringent security standards in protecting aviation systems. Speakers shared their expertise on how the industry can effectively balance these critical concerns to ensure both secure and safe aircraft operations.

As the aviation landscape evolves, both in the air and on the ground, new security challenges emerge. This panel focused on how advanced technologies are reshaping the aviation security landscape, with speakers discussing collaborative strategies to ensure that safety and security are upheld across all domains. Speakers explored the critical role of technology in safeguarding the future of aviation operations.

In addition to the panel discussions, the summit also featured three flash talks delivered by Gian Andrea Bandieri (EASA), Philip Windust (FAA), and Michael Goodfellow (ICAO), offering focused insights from these key regulatory bodies.

EUROCAE and RTCA will review the outcomes of the discussions to refine current standards and guide future standardisation efforts, ensuring they align with the evolving connectivity needs of the aviation industry.