ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu participated in the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos last week, contributing ICAO and aviation sector perspectives to panel discussions on the Future of Travel and the Roadmap to Clean Mobility.
Dr. Liu was invited to join the inaugural WEF Board of Stewards meeting on the Shaping the Future of Mobility System Initiative, the objective of which was to accelerate the transformation to a clean, safe, secure, inclusive and smart global mobility system.
ICAO perspectives were well reflected in the Board’s recommendations on the design and implementation of a pilot trusted-traveller programme, one which would employ technology-based security solutions based on harmonized international standards and integrated digital identity principles.
Regarding mobility, technology and employment challenges, the Board recommended integrating the unique skills requirements among various segments of mobility (e.g., advanced skilled trades and technicians in aerospace sector) to broader WEF skills and employment objectives.
On the topic of clean mobility, the Davos Stewards Board specifically referenced the ICAO CORSIA agreement as a benchmark for further mobility climate initiatives globally.
In collaboration with World Economic Forum Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution in San Francisco, the Board made further recommendations on convening public and private executives to explore the use of civil drones and new air transport modes, linked with the optimization of the current airspace (ATM systems), and a public-private workshop on global and regional aerospace certification processes for materials, drones and aircraft. It also recommended exploring improvements to the global supply chain through emerging technologies to address issues of speed, inconsistency in border services, excess costs and lack of visibility.
The 2017 Davos World Economic Forum took place from 17-20 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
