The way in which people co-ordinate and operate the system is central to how aviation faces unprecedented challenges in competition, safety and the environment. New ICAO safety management regulations have to be implemented from 2009; new European regulations require design to take account of human factors. These regulations must deliver measurable benefits. At the same time hyper-competition is forcing all organisations to become leaner, smarter and more resilient.

When you attend this conference, you will be engaging directly with, not only the HILAS partners, but with people who are leading future developments in the aviation system and will be actively participating in the conference. These include representatives of SESAR who are designing the future air traffic control system and Daniel Calleja Crespo the Director of Aviation for Europe. If you are concerned about safety in aviation, if you are concerned about the way in which aviation is changing and developing, you have to be concerned about the human factor in aviation. HILAS is transforming the capability to manage the human factor in aviation; this conference addresses a turning point in the aviation industry.

It will engage with the new regulation that every aviation organisation has to deal with, it will engage with implications of this research for new air traffic control systems and it will engage with the way with companies are reconciling the need to be lean, reduce costs, enhance safety and at the same time without compromising their quality of service.

HILAS had developed a continuing programme to support and enable the industry to change: documentation of processes and best practice, tools and methodologies, software, training programmes, collaboration and support from leading industry organisations and an advanced educational programme for the leaders of this transformation of aviation.