ANTALYA, TÜRKIYE – Over 200 global aviation leaders convened at the inaugural "AI in the Sky" conference in Antalya to address the transformative role of artificial intelligence in aviation's future. The three-day event, hosted by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with ICAO's support, showcased how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing aviation safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
"There is nothing artificial about artificial intelligence – it is delivering concrete results," stated Mr. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, highlighting the tangible benefits already being realized through artificial intelligence implementation.
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar emphasized artificial intelligence's critical role in achieving ICAO's 2026-2050 Strategic Plan objectives, "Artificial intelligence and big data analytics are not mere supplementary tools, but fundamental enablers of our strategic vision for safe, efficient, and sustainable global aviation." Salazar said.
The conference featured extensive discussions on:
• Artificial intelligence governance frameworks and regulatory harmonization
• Operational efficiency improvements through artificial intelligence integration
• Enhanced safety through predictive maintenance and risk assessment
• Environmental sustainability solutions
• Next-generation aviation workforce development
Türkiye showcased its achievements in developing domestic aviation technology solutions, including the "İRADE" system currently operational at Istanbul Atatürk and Çukurova airports, and "ÇARE," a multi-purpose radar screen system serving more than 40 Turkish airports and recently expanded to Azerbaijan.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority and Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand shared insights on developing flexible regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with safety. EUROCONTROL presented its machine learning-based delay prediction system, while IATA demonstrated comprehensive data governance frameworks for artificial intelligence implementation.
"This event marks a crucial milestone in coordinating global efforts to harness artificial intelligence's potential while ensuring safe, secure, and sustainable aviation development," said Prof. Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Director General of the Turkish DGCA.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Jorge Vargas, Director of ICAO's Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau, emphasized the shared responsibility ahead: "As we move forward with these innovations, we must remain mindful of our shared responsibility to ensure no country is left behind in this technological transformation. I urge all of us to consider how we can make these artificial intelligence advances accessible and implementable across all regions and levels of development."
