FAA wins the CANSO Global Safety Achievement Award

Vienna, Austria Tuesday 25 August 2026 – The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) has announced the recipient of the CANSO Global Safety Achievement Award. The award recognises the individuals, teams, or companies that have made a significant contribution to aviation safety in 2025. The safety award winner is the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization Space Operations group (ATO SO) for their developed process in integrating space missions into global airspace.

In 2025, ATO SO managed more than 300 space transport operations, including both completed and scrubbed missions. In 2026, the number of these operations is expected to increase by at least 25 per cent. This growth necessitates close collaboration among the FAA, space operators, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), and other aviation stakeholders.

To meet this demand and reduce aviation risk, ATO SO developed a repeatable process for integrating space missions into the global airspace, including:

• Assessing space operators’ requested mission windows by analysing current and historical air traffic demand.
• Sharing mission summaries, including hazard area information, with facilities, ANSPs, and other aviation stakeholders.
• Conducting collaborative planning teleconferences with space operators and aviation stakeholders using the CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas (CADENA) and Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) platforms.
• Coordinating the distribution and cancellation of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
• Managing real-time operational integration through a live hotline, Traffic Flow Management System, Microsoft Teams chat, and email.
• Sharing lessons learned through post-mission “hot wash” teleconferences.

ATO SO implements the ATO’s Acceptable Level of Risk (ALR) framework for space transport operations, using two complementary risk limits – one for individuals and one for collective risk – to protect each individual flight while capping the total number of aircraft permitted to operate near high-risk debris zones. ATO SO also regularly monitors safety indicators such as the number of aircraft affected per operation, airborne delay minutes, the proportion of reroutes versus holding, and the correlation between restriction duration and fuel burn risk, following the Safety Management System process to ensure standards are met as the space transport industry evolves.

Communication has been central to this achievement. ATO SO engages foreign ANSPs and international authorities as early as possible ahead of each mission, building strong relationships – including a 10-year partnership with CADENA – to share mission parameters, airspace impacts and real-time, safety-critical updates across regional collaboration frameworks.

This has reached dozens of ANSPs, strengthening their ability to prepare for and learn from space transport operations, and providing critical support to those with limited navigation and surveillance capabilities. Through international outreach, task forces, workshops and publications, ATO SO has also helped space transport operators engage earlier in the planning cycle and provide notifications sooner and with greater detail, further reducing airspace impacts and strengthening aviation safety.

Andrea Sack, CANSO’S Senior Vice President, Global Operations, presented the award to the FAA ATO Space Operations team during the annual Safety Standing Committee -Steering Group meeting in Vienna, Austria. As she commented during her remarks: “We are very proud to see the strength and volume of submissions for this year’s safety achievement award since they reflect an industry that’s genuinely pioneering – raising the bar on safety even as it takes on new and more complex challenges.”

She added: “We are also very glad to present this award to FAA ATO Space Operations as the they have set a clear example of how data-driven planning and early engagement with stakeholders can reduce risk without slowing innovation. The scale and complexity of space transport operations are growing fast, and safe integration into shared airspace depends on structured, proactive coordination.”

“This recognition reflects the work of everyone across our team, and the partners we coordinate with every day – from space operators to ANSPs around the world. As space operations continue to grow, we remain committed to sharing what we learn and strengthening the collaborative processes that keep our skies safe.” said Hope Kubala Vice President FAA Air Traffic Organisation Safety/Operational System Intelligence, who received the award on behalf of the team.

CANSO Global Safety Achievement award nominations for the 2026 cycle will open later this year with more information on how to submit your nomination available at canso.org.