By Kendall Gilbert, Associate Data Scientist
In April, I had the chance to attend and present research at the Integrated Navigation Communication and Surveillance (ICNS) 2026 conference in Herndon, Virginia, with members of Aireon’s Engineering team.
ICNS is an aviation conference addressing technology and policy advances in Communication Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) research, development and implementation programs, and policies related to CNS/Air Traffic Management (ATM) capabilities and applications. The ICNS Conference brings together leaders from government, industry, and academia, as well as senior technical experts to address important policy issues and contribute to the future directions of CNS and ATM.
As a young professional new to the aviation industry, I was excited for the opportunity to connect with aviation experts. In addition to keynote speakers and panelists, the conference’s technical session agenda consisted of six technical tracks and over 90 technical presentations for attendees to learn about advancements in communications, navigation, and surveillance.
I had the opportunity to present the paper, “Strategic Flight Route Prediction for Air Traffic Management.” This topic was chosen as a result of working with the Aireon Modeling & Analysis team, over a period of 4 months, to understand what may be helpful to Aireon as a product, as well as research for the world of ATM. This paper highlighted the ability to predict the route an aircraft will take hours before departure using minimal information as a result of Aireon’s system.
Within my presentation session, I gained insightful feedback, allowing me to understand which steps I should take next in the development of this model. Additionally, attending sessions within the ATM track was helpful to hear about other advancements currently being developed.
At the conference I attended a variety of panels, some including “GNSS Spoofing and Jamming – Potential Mitigations,” where Aireon Chief Innovation Scientist Dr. Michael Garcia presented, as well as “Trajectory Based Operations,” (TBO) and “Space is Open for Business: Commercial Launch Growth,” and the “Impact of CNS and the Air Traffic System.” It was a valuable experience to hear from experts in the academia and industry sectors to talk about notable topics. A major point of discussion throughout the week was Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Interference and the steps the industry is taking to mitigate these growing risks.
I also attended a keynote talk given by Joby, an electric air taxi company, and many technical presentations on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). It is interesting to think about these new systems that may be integrated into the current airspace.
Overall, this experience provided insight into current aviation industry practices, its future direction, and how I can contribute to Aireon by applying knowledge of its ongoing changes.
To learn more about ICNS 2026, click here.
To read the paper “Strategic Flight Route Prediction for Air Traffic Management”, click here.
