Raising the Aviation Bar

Explore the latest challenges facing aviation in our new EUROCONTROL 'Raising the Aviation Bar' podcast series with senior experts at EUROCONTROL plus exclusive interviews with top-level aviation stakeholders.
Expect strategic insights into the very latest sector developments, as well as a chance to hear about each interviewee’s personal journey to a career in aviation.

Raising the Aviation Bar

Latest episodes

Thumbnail of Episode 08 of RTAB Podcast with Pierre Depireux
Talking with Pierre Depireux

How will one of EUROCONTROL’s key aviation services – the Central Route Charges Office – develop in the future?

This episode of our #RaisingTheAviationBar podcast catches up with Pierre Depireux, our Head of EUROCONTROL’s Central Route Charges Office (CRCO) to learn how the route charges system works, and how EUROCONTROL is using digital technology to provide an even better service and customer experience – a priority for the future CRCO 2.0 roadmap set out in our corporate programme #RaisingtheBar: Building EUROCONTROL 2030.

In this podcast episode Pierre explains how the CRCO supports Member States and the aviation sector by collecting route charges, which cover the cost of ATC air traffic control for every flight and are the main source of liquidity for air navigation service providers across Europe. Pierre explains how route charges are calculated – and discusses potential system evolutions, where one of the topics currently under discussion is whether the charging scheme could be adapted to better accommodate zero-emission aircraft in the future and potentially incentivise decarbonisation, subject to amendment of the EU legislation.

The episode is a must-listen to understand better how crucial route charges are to the efficient functioning of the European aviation network.

Raising the Aviation Bar podcast with Luis Gallego - thumbnail
Talking with Luis Gallego

Leadership, teamwork and sustainability

Our latest podcast features an in-depth chat with one of Europe’s most-experienced aviation leaders – Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG (International Airlines Group). Luis took over as CEO of IAG in 2020, after a wide-ranging career in the aviation industry including the Spanish Air Force, INDRA, senior management roles at Air Nostrum, Vueling and Iberia.

In our podcast we get a glimpse into an upbringing that led Luis to take an interest in aviation already at a young age – as well as what he thinks is most important about leadership. The podcast covers sustainability, a key strategic priority for IAG. The Group, Luis explains, is investing significantly in SAF with currently $865 million in future purchases and investments committed as at the end of 2022. IAG is committed to using 10% of SAF by 2030. The Group is also looking into other technologies such as hydrogen and carbon removals, pushing forward system-wide change.

Raising the aviation bar
Talking to Milena Bowman and Tamara Pejovic

Driving diversity, equity & inclusion forward in aviation

In the latest episode of our #RaisingTheAviationBar podcast we discuss with EUROCONTROL Diversity Ambassadors Milena Bowman and Tamara Pejovic how aviation can drive forward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to ensure it attracts the best talent. As a technology-driven sector, aviation needs to attract the brightest minds, people who will be able to come up with the innovative solutions the sector needs to reduce its environmental impact – and help operational actors manage increasingly complex airspace.

Milena and Tamara share their personal stories and talk about the DEI initiatives they have been contributing to, such as EUROCONTROL’s cooperation with ICAO on their Next Generation Aviation Professionals Programme, our participation in the European Commission’s Ambassadors for #DiversityInTransport Network, our cooperation with non-profit organisation AviAll - Aviation for All as well as a range of other initiatives designed to promote careers in aviation to diverse sets of schoolchildren, school leavers and young professionals.

Previous episodes