On 24–25 June 2026, the ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The event was organised by ICAO EUR/NAT in collaboration with JAA Training Organisation (JAA TO).
The two-day workshop brought together a diverse group of aviation professionals, including representatives of Civil Aviation Authorities, International Organisations, Regulators, Training providers, Industry, Academia and ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Programme Members from the EUR/NAT and Asia-Pacific regions.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Nicolas Rallo, ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Director, Paula V. de Almeida, Chief Executive Officer of JAA TO, and Henri van Faassen, Director Civil Aviation Strategy and Resilience of the Netherlands. All three speakers highlighted the importance of continued collaboration in preparing the aviation sector for the challenges and opportunities ahead. This year’s workshop marked the third edition of the training event, following previous editions hosted in Paris and Almaty.
Two days of expert dialogue and knowledge exchange
Over the course of two days, panel discussions reflected on the current state of the industry and explored future improvements, emerging opportunities and evolving requirements shaping the workforce future of international aviation.
The discussions focused on how the sector can build and maintain a future-ready workforce capable of supporting the long-term safety, security and resilience of civil aviation.
Inspiring panels on the future of aviation training and workforce development
The workshop featured a series of inspiring thematic panels that addressed some of the most important questions shaping the future of civil aviation: how to attract new generations to the sector, how to align training with real operational needs, how to use digital tools and artificial intelligence responsibly, and how to prepare for emerging aviation models.
The panels featured over 35 speakers, including Directors General from Civil Aviation Authorities, Training Experts from ICAO and EUROCONTROL, Regulators, Industry, Academia and other ICAO TPP Members. Their dialogue enabled expert-level discussions on shaping a future-ready aviation workforce, regulatory developments, strengthening partnerships for workforce development, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in aviation training, and preparing for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
Acknowledgements and next steps
The workshop concluded with the session “Key Outcomes and Next Steps”, followed by closing remarks from representatives of ICAO EUR/NAT and JAA TO. The two days of discussions demonstrated that the future of aviation will depend on the sector’s ability to collaborate, modernise training and plan skills development strategically.
As co-organiser of the event, JAA TO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting high-quality aviation training, helping States and organisations build competencies, and creating a platform for dialogue between authorities, industry and the education sector.
The ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning marked an important step towards defining how aviation should prepare for the decades ahead - not only by adopting new technologies, but above all by investing in people, skills and partnerships.
