The summit, hosted at the International Civil Aviation Organization headquarters in Montreal, will have the theme “Is Aviation Really Ready to Scale Safely? Leadership for Growth, Complexity, and Disruption”. IASS 2026 is expected to bring together dozens of subject matter experts and panelists and more than 350 attendees from across the global aviation ecosystem to examine lessons from the past and future approaches to challenges associated with rapid growth, increasing complexity and frequent disruption.
Parimal Kopardekar, Ph.D., acting Director of the Airspace Operations and Safety Program in the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, will receive the Foundation’s David Morrison Innovation Award.
The award recognises his leadership and technical expertise in developing NASA’s uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management (UTM) concept. The David Morrison Innovation Award is presented annually to an individual, team or organisation for notable innovation in civil aviation, covering both technological innovation and process transformation.
Tzvetomir Blajev, operational safety coordinator at EUROCONTROL and former chair and long-time member of the Foundation’s European Advisory Committee, will receive the Foundation’s Jerome Lederer Safety Leadership Medal.
The award recognises his work bringing together stakeholders from across the aviation ecosystem to collaborate on aviation safety. Blajev was instrumental in the development of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions and the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions.
The Jerome Lederer Safety Leadership Medal recognises an individual or team for making a significant contribution to civil aviation safety through organisational or industry leadership and by developing or advancing programmes with a lasting impact on civil aviation. Like David Morrison, Jerome Lederer was one of the founders and early leaders of Flight Safety Foundation.
“Innovation and leadership are essential to enabling aviation to scale safely as the industry grows, complexity increases and disruptions become more commonplace,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Foundation. “It is appropriate that we recognize PK and Tzvetomir at IASS this year. Both of them are highly regarded leaders and innovators and have made significant contributions to advancing aviation safety now and into the future.”
The awards will be presented on Tuesday, November 10, during a special dinner held in conjunction with IASS 2026.
