ICAO North American, Central American and Caribbean Regional Office

20/08/2026

Another successful meeting of the ICAO NACC Search and Rescue Task Force (SAR/TF) in the books. The number one priority of this group is simple: saving lives.

Earlier this month, experts from across the Caribbean Region came together to review progress, share experiences, identify challenges, and agree on practical solutions that strengthen regional Search and Rescue capabilities.

While virtual meetings keep the work moving throughout the year, nothing replaces sitting around the same table, comparing notes, building relationships, and working through complex issues together. That collaboration is invaluable and helps ensure our SAR systems continue to evolve in a coordinated and harmonized manner across the region.

A sincere thank you to every participant for your expertise, commitment, and willingness to work together toward a common goal. It is an honor to support this incredible team.

20/06/2026

Agradecemos a la Dirección General de Aviación Civil de Costa Rica por su amable hospitalidad durante esta semana que se llevó a cabo el lanzamiento de estudio de factibilidad sobre SAF’s mediante la donación del estado español al programa ACT-SAF.
El lanzamiento, estuvo acompañado por el taller nacional sobre combustible sostenible para Aviación, que se realizaron los días 17 y 18 de junio. Las palabras de apertura estuvieron a cargo de los señores Pablo Camacho Salazar, Viceministro de Infraestructura del Ministerio de Transporte; Juan Ignacio Villacián, Embajador de España en la República de Costa Rica y Christopher Barks, Director Regional de la Oficina NACC de la OACI. La coordinación estuvo a cargo de los puntos de contacto para el estudio de factibilidad en Costa Rica el señor Miguel Solano y la señora Evelyn Quiroz, el lanzamiento contó con la presencia de diferentes actores claves para el estudio de factibilidad cómo son: las autoridades de Aviación, medioambiente, sector de energía, aerolíneas, empresas privadas, entre otras.

19/06/2026

En el Marco del Proyecto de Asistencia de ACT-SAF´s de la OACI a la República de Costa Rica, el Sr. Christopher Barks, Director Regional realizó una visita de Cortesia a las Instalaciones de la Agencia Centroamericana para la Seguridad Aeronáutica ACSA, la cual fortaleció la cooperación institucional y el diálogo estratégico, reconociendo su papel en la supervisión de la seguridad operacional, la seguridad de la aviación y la armonización regulatoria entre los Estados centroamericanos. Asimismo, permitió avanzar en la coordinación con los programas de la OACI, identificar oportunidades de apoyo a los Estados, incluyendo en sostenibilidad (CORSIA y SAF), y reafirmar a ACSA como socio estratégico en la implementación de los objetivos regionales y globales de la aviación civil, en particular en los ámbitos de política y planificación y apoyo a la implementación como el Marco Global de la OACI para SAF, LCAF y otras energías más limpias.

El Sr Barks fue recibido por Silvia Gutiérrez, Asistente Gerente; José Carlos Rodríguez Especialista Aeronavegabilidad y Mariana Pérez Especialista AVSEC/FAL El Sr. Barks también estuvo acompañado por el Sr. Luis Sanchez, Especialista Regional en Meteorología Aeronáutica y Medio Ambiente y por la Sra. Judit De León, Especialista Regional en Apoyo a la Implementación del Medioambiente en la aviación.

08/06/2026

The Fourteenth Meeting of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Directors of Civil Aviation (NACC/DCA/14) hosted by Antigua and Barbuda and held at the (AUA) Conference Centre, Jabberwock Beach Road, University Park, Coolidge, Antigua is wrapped up its sessions last Friday June 5, 2026. With the participation of Directors General of Civil Aviation Authorities of States and Territories of the ICAO NAM/CAR Regions, and representatives of invited international organizations. In addition to topics linked to the ICAO Strategic Goals, this meeting also addressed Regulatory and Institutional Sandboxes in the CAR Region. The NACC/DCA/14 served as a forum for the convening of the Thirteenth Meeting of the FRL09M1 Multi-Regional Civil Aviation Assistance Programme (MCAAP) Project Steering Committee and it also included the high-level interactive workshop entitled Effective Delegation and Regional Cooperation which was kindly sponsored by United Arab Emirates.

We thank Antigua and Barbuda as our gracious host, meeting participants and all of our sponsors!

ICAO

27/05/2026

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the Flight Procedure Design Basic Training under the Flight Procedure Programme (FPP). This important milestone has helped strengthen States’ capabilities in Instrument Flight Procedure Design (IFPD) and oversight. The programme will now continue with the On-the-Job Training (OJT) phase, where participants will apply their knowledge in real operational environments. Stay tuned as we continue supporting capacity building and aviation safety in the CAR Region!
Training

27/05/2026

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the Flight Procedure Design Basic Training under the Flight Procedure Programme (FPP). This important milestone has helped strengthen States’ capabilities in Instrument Flight Procedure Design (IFPD) and oversight. The programme will now continue with the On-the-Job Training (OJT) phase, where participants will apply their knowledge in real operational environments. Stay tuned as we continue supporting capacity building and aviation safety in the CAR Region!

23/04/2026

At the Congreso Internacional de Seguridad Aérea 2026 in Tulum, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), through its NACC Regional Office, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening aviation safety across the region.

The ICAO delegation was represented by Regional Director Christopher Barks, alongside José María Peral Pecharroman (Regional Officer, Aviation Security), Sereya Schotborgh (Regional Officer, Operational Safety), and José Alfredo Jiménez (Regional Officer, AIG Implementation).

Through active engagement, ICAO contributed to key discussions on emerging safety challenges, operational resilience, and the continuous enhancement of oversight systems aligned with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

Participation in forums such as this reflects the shared responsibility of States and industry to work collaboratively toward a safer, more secure, and sustainable aviation system.

Together, we continue to build a safer, stronger, and more connected aviation community.

20/04/2026

It’s meeting time! We welcome participants to the Second Meeting of the NACC/WG Airspace Management ans Capacity Balancing Task Force and Eleventh Meeting of the CANSO IATA ICAO Free Route Airspace Team. This important group coordinates the progress of regional coordination on Free Route Airspace (FRA) and upper airspace initiatives as well as strengthening collaboration among States, Territories, Air Navigation Service Providers and industry partners in the NAM/CAR Regions.

07/04/2026

¡Vamos en avión! ✈️