The SWIFT Conference & Expo returned to Vancouver in September with the highest ever recorded attendance for a ‘non-equipment’ year. The 2024 ‘Better Together | Working Together’ theme is at the heart of all things SWIFT as the airport community join together to exchange solutions to common challenges and explore new ideas.

SWIFT 2025, hosted by Toronto Pearson Airport, takes place at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls. Registration will open in March but for information on sponsoring or exhibiting, we recommend getting in touch now as expo space is likely to sell out again.

Running from 23-25 September 2025, the CAPTG workshop (tickets sold separately) will also take place ahead of SWIFT on the 22nd September.

Tickets for SWIFT and the CAPTG workshop can be purchased via the SWIFT website

A unique opportunity to tour the airport that anchors Canada’s largest industrial employment zone. Highlights to include

• AMF Tour
• Command Center – Overview of day-to-day operations (pending no disruption to their work).
• Equipment Bay – Simulator demonstration connected to the Vibe Board, showcasing its value for AVOP training and employee familiarization.
• Vammas Pad – Equipment showcase (Vammas, Snow Wolf, MB Sweeper, Overaasen).
• Visit with “Bird Man.”
• ARFF Fire Truck (coordinated through Alysha Lewis).

COMPLEX AIRFIELD SYSTEMS STRATEGY
The second of the 2025 CASS meetings takes place in Niagara Falls. Easy to get to from YYZ and reasonably priced accommodation. Again we focus on:

• Enhanced Digital Tower
• Advancement Pavement and FOD risk management
• Airfield Digital Twins
• Drones
• Smart Stands
• Airfield Autonomy (perimeter patrol/grass cutting)

Exchanging ideas, issues and solutions about every aspect of airfield maintenance. Sharing results of research and development projects and identifying issues and changes to existing regulations, policies, standards and guidelines, technical training, maintenance management and practices.

• Up-front access to the latest airfield technologies
• Technical and operational sessions
• International airport, airline and government delegates

Each year, airport members of the SWIFT steering group agree on key issues that need addressing at the next conference.

As complex airfield technologies advance, our challenge is to explore the benefits of integrating diverse systems including:

• Enhanced Digital Tower
• Advancement Pavement and FOD risk management
• Airfield Digital Twins
• Smart Stands
• Airfield Autonomy (perimeter patrol/grass cutting)

A collaborative workshop between senior airfield ops management and digital product developers.

SWIFT (Summer Winter Integrated Field Technologies) is the premier conference and expo for the airport community to gather and learn about innovation in airside operations.

Attendance is growing (2023 was a staggering 40% up on 2022) but Vancouver has always enjoyed high attendance where YVR has won the Skytrax ‘Best North American Airport’ award for a record 12 consecutive years.

The event includes specialist CAPTG (Canadian Airport Pavement Technical Group) sessions.

This year’s CASS workshop takes place in Vancouver on September 16th, the day before SWIFT 24 at the Sheraton Wall Centre.

After meeting in London, Montreal, DARTeC (the Digital Aviation Research & Technology Centre) at Cranfield University (UK), Winnipeg, and London Heathrow it is clear that there is an appetite to drive forward the sharing of Airfield Systems Strategies

This invitation-only workshop fosters discussion and collaboration between senior airfield operations management and product developers.

SWIFT (Summer Winter Integrated Field Technologies) is the premier conference and expo for the North American airport community to gather and discuss innovation in airside operations, maintenance and safety. 

Now, for the first time, European airports are gathering in London to share knowledge & expertise in field technologies.

This UK Innovation Summit is an exclusive, invitation-only event addressing current and future challenges on the airside.

Through real case studies from major airports, the Innovation Summit will explore how aviation can meet upcoming challenges utilizing advanced technologies and innovative approaches.

You can expect an interactive format where you will engage with your peers from across the region, as well as our mix of speakers which includes technology and airside operations experts. This one-and-a-half-day summit is free to attend and promises to be one of the airside operations event of 2024.

The benefits of sharing our Airfield Systems Strategies are fairly apparent and this bespoke group of airports, airlines and ATSPs worked alongside a small collection of complex system providers who contribute to discussion.

The group has now worked through a series of set exercises and revealed the beginnings of a path towards de-risking ‘innovative’ integration projects and creating a common ‘framework’. After meeting in London, Montreal, and at DARTeC, the Digital Aviation Research & Technology Centre at Cranfield University (UK), it is clear that there is an appetite to drive forward.

The conversation continues in Winnipeg on the day before the 2023 SWIFT Conference & Expo

SWIFT 23, the industry’s favorite airfield conference and expo, is coming to Winnipeg in September. This year’s event is a full ‘Equipment Year’ and delegates can see new equipment at YWG alongside the regular conference and expo at Delta Hotels, Downtown Winnipeg.

• Up-front access to the latest airfield technologies.
• Technical and operational sessions.
• Canadian, US, European and International airport and government delegates

SWIFT 22 is a physical conference and expo that brings the airport community together and, for members unable to travel, there is an option to interact with all sessions virtually. In addition to the core conference, delegates can meet suppliers in the expo area at the main venue, and experience demos in a dedicated external area

• Up-front access to the latest airfield technologies.
• Technical and operational sessions.
• Canadian, US, European and International airport and government delegates
• CAPTG sessions
• Demo area

To get the ‘early bird’ ticket rate SUBSCRIBE NOW

As complex airfield technologies advance, our challenge is to explore the benefits of integrating the diverse  systems. In some cases, the opportunity may already be here whilst in others, a considered approach is required to identify what additional benefits integration can provide and how best to progress. The CASS workshop is facilitated by specialist aviation consultants, Alchemmy.

• What are the common desired outcomes?
• Open system architectures?
• Defining standards?

When it comes to identifying threats and hazards, FOD, drones, and wildlife all feature highly on the checklist. For every civil and military aerodrome, aircraft operator, and regulator, safety and security are of paramount concern.
As the risks and hazards emerge and evolve, the industry has to adapt & advance its responses and pre-empt future hazards. The experiences of other airports help us learn how to apply best practices in terms of procedures, technology, and efficiency in order to continually evaluate and contain the threats and hazards of the future.
The FDH&S series uses the most compelling case studies to explore the potential impact of these risks and how to stretch budgets by increasing efficiency.

Each Wednesday is split into two, bite-sized, virtual 60-minute sessions covering all aspects of airfield operations and best practices within FOD, drones, habitat and safety.