We Are All Vital to the Continued Success of ATM
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hat a year it has been in aviation, in and announcements coming out of World geopolitics, in science, and in pub- ATM Congress, the largest, most well-attendlic health. From aviation incidents, ed ATM event in the world. This year, instead aircraft groundings, and a global pandemic, of simply providing coverage, we are excitwe are testing the resiliency of our systems ed to use this valuable platform to advance and the people who run the global airspace. thought leadership in ATM. We would like Aviation is still the safest mode of transporta- to thank our exhibitors and sponsors for oftion, and it is in times like these that we need fering their expertise and insights to fill the to stand connected as a community—even if pages of this electronic World ATM Now newswe cannot be together in person. paper. At the time, it was quite a difficult deciWe would also like to encourage you to sion to cancel World ATM Congress 2020. In visit our Presentation Theatre webpage and retrospect, just a few weeks later, it felt to us view and download materials that our prelike the easiest and best decision we could senters have provided. Even if there aren’t have made. Protectlive audiences for these ing our attendees is presentations, they still SAVE THE DATE paramount not only offer critical, innovative to the health of our information that can event, but to national benefit us all. We also security, to safe transwant to remind you to port, and to global, review the electronic regional, and local Congress Guide, get economies alike. We in touch with your need to make sure the partners and potenmany redundancies tial partners, and use we build into our processes and technolo- us as a means to network. While we adhere gies continue to keep the skies safe. Special to GDPR and our own stringent privacy polithanks are due to our friends and colleagues cies, if there are specific people or organisaon the front lines. Aviation and air traffic tions you would like to connect with, please management (ATM) are 24/7/365 operations. send us an email info@worldatmcongress. While many of us are forced into telework org and we will do our best to connect arrangements or taking leave, air traffic con- you! trollers, airspace managers, pilots, and airThank you again for your understanding, line personnel are showing up to work, each patience, and for your continued support for and every day, to ensure the safety of the World ATM Congress, the Air Traffic Control airspace—often putting their own health at Association (ATCA), and the Civil Air Navigarisk to do so. You are unsung heroes, and we tion Services Organisation (CANSO), as we appreciate everything you do. continue to navigate through these unchartFor the last seven years, this newspaper ed waters. We look forward to seeing you all has reported on all the most exciting news in Madrid next year, 9 – 11 March 2021.
Peter F. Dumont President & CEO Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA)
Simon Hocquard Director General Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO)
IFEMA Transformed Into Europe's Largest Makeshift Hospital to Treat COVID-19 Patients
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orld ATM Congress' home at IFEMA — Madrid's largest exhibition centre — has been transformed into a hospital to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. It's been fitted with 5,500 hospital beds, making it Europe's largest makeshift hospital. Hundreds of patients have been moved from local hospitals to IFEMA. Spain was one of the countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and IFEMA quickly became a vital resource to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.