Christian Schleifer-Heingärtner re-appointed President of ICAO Air Navigation Commission

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has unanimously appointed Mr. Christian Schleifer-Heingärtner, of Austria, to a second one-year term as President of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC), effective 1 January 2013.

During his first mandate in 2012, Mr. Schleifer-Heingärtner led the Commission through a detailed analysis of proposals for review at the 12th Air Navigation Conference (19 to 30 November), examining ways to cope safely and efficiently with the doubling of flights worldwide over the next 20 years. He will also lead the process of submitting the outcomes of the Conference to the 38th session of the Organization’s Assembly in the fall of 2013, in effect bridging the two events during his tenure.

During this second mandate, Mr. Schleifer-Heingärtner will present the results of the Commission´s work in developing the first new Annex to the Chicago Convention in 42 years, namely Annex 19 on Safety Management.

Schleifer-Heingärtner has been a Commissioner of the ANC since 2009 nominated by the ABIS group (Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland and Portugal). Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, he worked with the Austrian Aviation Authority (CAA) in certification and airworthiness for 14 years.

He is an Avionics Engineer, Pilot and Flight Test Engineer and holds a valid Avionics maintenance license as well as a commercial pilot license.

The Air Navigation Commission is ICAO’s technical body. It is composed of 19 independent international experts responsible for the development of all technical Standards and Recommended Practices for the safety of International Civil Aviation. The ANC is assisted in its work by State observers and industry representatives.