DATE & TIME:
18 September 10:00 - 11:30 EDT
ICAO TV Recording
UTM Financial Sustainability Strategies
Now that several States, organizations and industry members have begun implementing UTM Systems and offering UTM services, the question of how such services can be sustained from a financial perspective remains open. This webinar will look at business models for UTM, as well as associated ownership options, including fully private, fully public and public/private partnerships. Speakers with direct implementation/operational experience will provide insights on methods to finance the development of new infrastructure, possible approaches to the cost distribution, as well as funding mechanisms to manage risk and ensure long-term sustainability.
Moderator
Munish Khurana (EUROCONTROL)
Munish is a customer focused, strategic thinker with entrepreneurial passion who has delivered mission critical technology solutions globally. He currently works for EUROCONTROL as a Senior Manager - Business Development in the European Green Sky Directorate. In this role, he is responsible for developing U-space/UAM capabilities with partners of EUROCONTROL. He represents EUROCONTROL in the European Network of U-space Stakeholders, in partnership with the DG Move, EASA and SESAR Joint Undertaking.
In his previous role, Munish defined and implemented customer centric strategy for an ANSP to enhance capacity, efficiency and safety of its operations. For project managing delivery of 360-degree flight simulator at Dubai Air Navigation Services, Munish was awarded the best "Technology implementation of the year" at Business Awards 2013 in the Dubai.
He has published ten papers on Technology management in international conferences and journals. Munish holds a research degree (MPhil) in Software Engineering from Nottingham Trent University (UK) and Global Executive MBA from Rotterdam School of Management (NL)
Speakers
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Amit Ganjoo (ANRA Technologies)
Amit Ganjoo is the Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies with offices in London, Washington DC, Tallinn and New Delhi. ANRA is a global provider of end-to-end uncrewed aircraft operations and traffic management solutions for enterprises, operators, and airspace managers. He has over 20 years of aviation, telecom, robotic, and wireless experience in both the federal and the commercial space. He is an engineer and licensed pilot, a Board Member of GUTMA, Co-Chairs ASTM Standards Working Group for UTM and Co-Chairs ASTM UAM Interoperability Working Group.
He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to the FAA Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC)
Mikael Shamim ( Helicus )
Mikael Shamim is CEO of Helicus, launched in 2016 to fulfill healthcare demand for drone based medical transport. "Helicus Aero Initiative" (HAI) was created as an ecosystem of leading organisations from all sectors to work towards robust, safe and economical unmanned aerial services. Helicus contributes with drone agnostic modular technologies: fleet management software and automated drone/payload ground handling hardware. As an operator Helicus collaborates with UA OEM and has been the first in the EU to obtain operational authorization for BVLOS/populated area flights and (50kg) medical cargo per passenger drone flights adjacent to populated area.
Helicus collaborates in/coordinates 8 funded UA related projects to support regulations, norms and solutions. One of these projects, SAFIR-Med, won the SESAR JU Digital European Sky award in 2022. In 2023, six European operators launched the open "Drone Operator Requirements Aero Initiative" (DORAI) and issued a first set of requirements on containerization, software interfacing and hardware automation to support UA OEM in their developments towards fulfilling market needs.
Having spent his youth sailing (navigating) the world, Mikael realized an old dream and obtained his Private Pilot Licence (PPL-A) in 2009. He flies Piper Warrior III and Robin DR400 at the Royal Antwerp Aviation Club. Joining the age of (aerial) robotisation, he additionally obtained his class 1 drone pilot license (RPL-R) and later converted his license to EASA compliant A2 in 2021.
Mikael holds a commercial engineering degree (University Antwerp / JWG Universität Frankfurt) and an MBA (SDA Bocconi / Columbia GSB). Before joining the Healthcare sector full time in 2014 as hospital group CEO, he worked 7 years as a management consultant (Accenture & Bain) and 10 years as an industry executive (Deputy GM at Toyota Motor Europe & COO Kärcher BeNelux).
Dr. Jeffrey C. Wharff (FAA)
Dr. Jeffrey C. Wharff currently serves as the Chief Economist to the Office of Aviation Policy and Plans, Federal Aviation Administration. With over 25 years of federal service, he provides key economic and policy analysis on issues associated with congestion management, aviation financing, modernization, and the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the U.S. national airspace. Dr. Wharff regularly participates in International Civil Aviation Organization events where he serves as the U.S. panel member on the Airport Economics Panel and the Air Navigation Services Economic Panel. He is also responsible for the development of standards and guidelines for cost-benefit analysis of airport capacity projects.
Prior to joining the FAA, Dr. Wharff was employed by Capital Economics (Howrey & Simon) based in Washington, D.C. where he focused on merger and acquisition issues. Industries of focus included transportation, telecommunication, petroleum, and pharmaceuticals. As an adjunct professor in Economics, Dr. Wharff has taught economics in the Washington, D.C. area for over 20 years.
Dr. Wharff received his Ph.D. in Economics from The American University in 1996. His area of research included industrial organization, with an emphasis on market structure and strategic rivalry.
Dr. Joachim Lücking (European Commission)
Dr. Joachim Lücking has been Head of Unit for Aviation Safety in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission since November 2016. In this role, he is responsible for implementing and developing European aviation safety policy, including oversight of EASA, as well as the Commission's international activities in the area. He also leads DG MOVE's work on drones and innovative air mobility. He represents the Commission as a member of the Management Board of EASA and an alternate member of the Governing Board of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.
Joachim joined the European Commission in 1995, and held a number of management positions in the Competition Directorate-General before joining DG MOVE.
Prior to joining the Commission, Joachim worked as an academic and in industry. He holds a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a M.A. in economics from Wayne State University, Detroit.
Alan Chapman
Alan Chapman is the Director for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS Traffic Management) within NAV CANADA. Alan is accountable for shaping NAV CANADA’s strategy for RTM, ensuring safe integration of UAVs and traditional aviation, supporting drone incursion initiatives, and the delivery of ANSP services to meet the Canadian State plan and associated regulations.
Alan co-chairs, along with Transport Canada, the RTM Action Team, a consultative forum with stakeholders from across the RPAS industry, Alan also co-chairs the Trials Executive Steering Committee. Prior to joining NAV CANADA Alan has a long history of leadership roles supporting digitization, software solutions, innovation and integration. In his career Alan has held executive roles in large technology organizations, such as IBM, early stage/start up companies and has been an independent consultant.
