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Thank You for Attending ICNS 2026

The 2026 edition of the Integrated Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (ICNS) Conference has concluded, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this conference.

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Over the three days, ICNS 2026 welcomed 185 in-person participants from over 20 countries representing a global community of leaders and technical experts from government, industry, and academia. Through engaging keynote sessions, thought-provoking panels, and a rich technical program, the conference explored the latest advancements and the challenges in the context of “Enhancing the Resilience of Future ICNS.”

This year’s discussions reinforced several key priorities: the importance of collaboration across the aviation ecosystem, the required standards for globally harmonized and interoperable solutions, and the continued focus on delivering operational value through innovation.

Highlights included:

  1. Four keynotes featuring outstanding speakers
    • David S. Burkholder, Acting Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, FAA
    • Dr. Jim Hileman, Chief Engineer and Vice President of Sustainability and Future Mobility, Boeing
    • Loftur Jónasson, Chief, CNS and Spectrum (CNSS), Air Navigation Bureau, ICAO
    • Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer, Joby Aviation
  2. Five plenary panels and one workshop
  3. A packed technical program with six tracks featuring 90 technical presentations including 35 student-authored papers
  4. Numerous networking opportunities during breaks and two well-attended evening events
  5. Recognition of excellence through Best Paper Awards, including:
    • Best of Conference Paper Award – Presented to Nathan Johnson and Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ, USA for their paper “Enhancing Future CNS-ATM Resilience Through Pilot-Centric Mitigation of Cyber Deception.”
    • Six Best of Track awards – Four of them are student-authored papers, co-authored with professors
    • Three Best Student Paper awards

The prestigious ICNS Champion Award for 2026 was awarded to Aloke Roy, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to advancing communications, navigation and surveillance technologies and infrastructure for aviation, as well as his long-standing commitment to the ICNS Conference.

We thank our keynote speakers, panelists, authors, chairs, reviewers, and the organizing committee members for their valuable time and expertise. We are grateful to our sponsors and supporters, whose continued commitment sustains this conference. A special thank you goes to all participants, whose engagement and contributions are what made ICNS 2026 an engaging, productive and memorable event.

We look forward to seeing you again at ICNS 2027, 6-8 April 2027 in Herndon, Virginia, USA.

Sherry Yang and Dr. Rainer Kölle
ICNS 2026 Conference General Co-chairs

Photo Highlights

Conference attendees listen as an opening keynote speaker presents in the plenary room.
Day 1 Opening Keynote by Mr. David S. Burkholder, Acting Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, Federal Aviation Administration.
Plenary I participants pose on stage beside the ICNS 2026 welcome screen.
Plenary I: Current Datalink/DataComm Metrics and Future Communication Technologies. Left to right: Jerry Hencock, Greg Saccone, Andrew Berti, Luc Emberger, Chip Meserole, Corinne Lefebvre.
Plenary II participants pose together on stage near the ICNS 2026 session screen.
Plenary II: GNSS Spoofing and Jamming — Potential Mitigations. Left to right: Lisa Bee, Michael Garcia, Tim Murphy, Jim Sherman, Gabriele Enea.
The day 1 evening keynote speaker presents to attendees beside a projected image.
Day 1 Evening Keynote by Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer, Joby Aviation.
The day 2 keynote speaker presents from the podium beside a slide on airspace efficiency and safety.
Day 2 Keynote by Dr. Jim Hileman, Chief Engineer and Vice President of Sustainability and Future Mobility, The Boeing Company.
Plenary III participants pose together on stage near the ICNS 2026 session screen.
Plenary III: Pilots’ and Controllers’ Perspectives on Surveillance Resilience. Left to right: Dan Hicok, Paul Harrison, Josh Haviland, Greg Orrell, Gabriele Enea, Nicki Harricharan, Edward Conant, Sherry Yang.
Plenary IV participants pose together on stage near the ICNS 2026 session screen.
Plenary IV: Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO). Left to right: Will Estrada, Philippe Masson, Tobias Finck, Stéphane Mondoloni, Gabriele Enea, Sherry Yang.
The day 3 keynote speaker presents from the podium beside a slide about aircraft radio altimeters.
Day 3 Keynote by Mr. Loftur Jónasson, Chief, CNS and Spectrum, ICAO.
Plenary V participants pose in front of the ICNS 2026 banner image.
Plenary V: CNS Standardization Efforts. Left to right: Paul Prisaznuk, Mark Watson, Loftur Jónasson, Wesley Olson, Kim Kolb, Mahesh Balakrishna, Gabriele Enea, Sherry Yang.
Best of Track 1 award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Best of Track 1 Award presentation.
Best of Track 2 award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Best of Track 2 Award presentation.
Best of Track 3 award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Best of Track 3 Award presentation.
Best of Track 4 award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Best of Track 4 Award presentation.
Best of Track 5 award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Best of Track 5 Award presentation.
Best of Conference Award recipient and presenters pose on stage with the award.
Best of Conference Award presentation.
Best of Track 6 award recipients and presenters pose on stage with certificates.
Best of Track 6 Award presentation.
Student Best Paper Award recipient and presenters pose on stage with a certificate.
Student Best Paper Awards – 3rd Place presentation.
ICNS attendees gather for lunch at round tables in a conference ballroom.
Thursday lunch participants.