The 36-member governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the ICAO Council, has elected Salvatore Sciacchitano of Italy as its president for a three-year term, effective January 1, 2020.
He succeeds Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu of Nigeria, who has held the position since 2014.
Sciacchitano’s candidacy had been endorsed by the 44 general directors of the European Civil Aviation Conference. His election follows a 39-year career in aviation, during which he served as general director of the Italian Airworthiness Authority, as deputy general director of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, and held many other international positions including executive secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC; 2010–2018).
He has also participated in several ICAO Assemblies as chief or alternate chief of the Italian Delegation to ICAO, as well as the chief delegate of ECAC. Sciacchitano had recently been appointed to the Italian Delegation to the ICAO Council.
The ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 193 Member States.