Aerospace Global News Theatre 1 – Thursday 23rd July 2026

10:00 – 10:50 AGN Session

Panel: Commanding the Connected Sky: The Future of Digital Air Defence

Bryn Lucas, Presenter, AGN

The future of air superiority will be defined not only by platforms, but by the ability to sense, connect, secure and control an increasingly complex airspace environment. As drones, autonomous systems, advanced air mobility and emerging defence technologies scale, digital airspace is becoming a critical enabler of security, safety and economic growth. This panel will explore how governments, defence organisations and technology leaders are shaping the connected air domain — from electronic conspicuity and real-time data sharing to AI-enabled sensing, secure communications and resilient digital infrastructure. Discussions will examine the evolving counter-drone challenge, the integration of unmanned systems into shared airspace, and the partnerships needed to build a secure and future-ready airspace ecosystem .

12:00 – 13:00 AGN Session

Panel: AAM in Practice: Which Use Cases Will Scale First?

Bryn Lucas, Presenter, AGN
Brandon Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO, Horizon Aircraft
Jeremy Akel, CEO, Omni Helicopters

Beyond the hype, where will Advanced Air Mobility create real operational value first? This session focuses on viable early markets, from regional connectivity and emergency response to logistics and dual-use missions, asking which use cases can scale commercially and what market conditions are needed to support them.

13:00 – 13:15 AGN Session

Keynote:  Where next for Aviation Safety?

John Vincent, CEO, International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA)

Ever advancing technology, training, processes, procedures and safety regulation have delivered decades of continuous safety improvement. It’s not so easy to say what comes next for commercial air transport. The aviation industry has not yet fully exploited safety management system, but when it has, will that be enough? Progress is not linear. Past step transitions have been successfully traversed (Autoland, glass cockpits, fly-by-wire, integrated systems, to name a few). What’s ahead is an order of magnitude more complex – or is it? Innovation is great but it’s useless if it cannot be practically and safely applied.

13:25 – 13:55 AGN Session

Panel: Aviation for Good – The Most Important Flights You’ll Never Take

Rachel Gardner-Poole OBE, Chair of Board of Trustees, Aviation for Good Charity
Kerissa Khan, DSc FRAES, Aviation for Good Charity

Most of us experience aviation through airports, airlines and global connections. But some of aviation’s most important work happens far from the routes we usually see. This keynote looks at how aircraft reach people and places that other forms of transport cannot. Through real examples of humanitarian and development flying, Rachel Gardner-Poole and Kerissa Khan will show how aviation helps communities access medical care, respond to crises and stay connected to the wider world. It is a reminder that aviation is not only about moving people and goods. At its best, it connects communities, opens up opportunities, and makes a real difference to people’s lives.

14:00 – 15:00 AGN Session 

Panel: Dual-Use Aviation: Unlocking New Markets Through Next-Generation Aircraft

Bryn Lucas, Journalist, AGN
James Dorris, CEO, Odys Aviation
Kenneth Thad Bibb, VP of Business Development, Radia
Dave Pankhurst, Innovation Director & Future Connected Solutions, BT Group

As aerospace companies seek to address both commercial and defence requirements, a new generation of aircraft is emerging that challenges traditional market boundaries. From hybrid-electric platforms designed to serve civilian and military missions alike to ultra-large aircraft capable of transforming the movement of oversized cargo, innovative technologies are creating new opportunities across logistics, energy, defence, and mobility. This panel will explore how manufacturers are identifying and scaling dual-use applications, the operational and economic advantages of new aircraft concepts, and the role these platforms could play in addressing some of the world’s most pressing transportation and infrastructure challenges. Panellists will discuss the market drivers, investment considerations, and regulatory pathways that will shape the future of dual-use aviation and determine which technologies achieve widespread adoption.