RIYADH: Salvatore Sciacchitano is the sixth president of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council. He succeeded Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu on Jan. 1, 2020.
Graduated in telecommunications engineering from the University of Catania and destined for a distinguished career with the Italian Airworthiness Authority in 1980, he grew in stature to become the organization’s regulation director in 1992 and director-general in 1996.
Sciacchitano held the position of deputy director-general after the merger of IAA with the Italian Transport Ministry and the establishment of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority.
During this stint, he built the core business divisions of the newly founded structure. He also chaired the permanent commission of Eurocontrol, represented Italy on the management board of the European Aviation Safety Agency and held the vice-presidency of the Eurocontrol provisional council. He also coordinated with the Italian delegation during ICAO assemblies.
In 2010, Sciacchitano was appointed executive secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference.
In February 2019, he joined the Italian delegation on the Council of ICAO, where he served until assuming his duties as president of the council.
“I have dedicated my 39-year career to the wonderful world of civil aviation, building a solid experience in national and international organizations,” he once said.
The ICAO is a specialized agency of the UN. It changes the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters is located in the Quartier International of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
