ITE brings its drone solutions to the IFIS Congress in Central America

El Salvador will host a new edition of the IFIS Congress, a leading technical event in airport inspection where ITE will showcase its international expertise in drone solutions.

From 4 to 8 May 2026, experts from the aeronautical and technology sectors will gather in Central America for the IFIS Congress (International Flight Inspection Symposium), a specialist forum combining technical knowledge, practical demonstrations and networking between operators, authorities and technology companies.

Organised globally by ICASC, the International Committee for Airspace Standards and Calibration, and in its Central American edition by COCESNA, the Central American Corporation of Air Navigation Services, this event is established as a key meeting point for innovation in the inspection of air navigation aids.

A technical congress focused on airport inspection

The IFIS programme is structured around five days of highly specialised technical talks, focused on airport inspection, procedure validation and the evolution of air navigation technologies.

In this context, drone-based technology is playing an increasingly relevant role, particularly in the inspection of radio navigation aids (NAVAIDs) and visual aids (PAPI). In this regard, Juan Díaz, Director of Drone Solutions at ITE, explains that:

“The adoption of these technologies makes it possible to significantly improve processes, as it facilitates more efficient operations, reduces intervention times and raises safety standards in critical environments such as airports”.

In addition to the technical sessions, the congress incorporates an exhibition area where participating companies present their technological capabilities and real-world use cases.

CANARD by ITE: UAV technology applied to air navigation

Under its specialist line CANARD by ITE, the company will present its UAV-based solutions applied to the inspection of critical infrastructure in the airport environment.

These technologies enable a more efficient approach to the inspection of systems such as ILS or VOR, as well as visual aids such as PAPI, ALS or airport lighting systems, improving data accuracy and reducing the operational impact on facilities. In the words of Juan Díaz, “this type of solution makes it possible to carry out safer, more efficient and more precise inspections, whilst minimising the impact on the day-to-day operations of the airport — an especially critical aspect in high-activity infrastructure”.

The company will also have a presence in the congress exhibition area, where it will attend to sector professionals from stand number 1.

ITE reinforces its international positioning

ITE’s participation in IFIS Central America is supported by its prior experience in the region, where it has already collaborated with COCESNA on projects related to airport inspection and maintenance.

For Juan Díaz, “this type of event represents a strategic opportunity not only to showcase technological capabilities, but also to share knowledge and strengthen relationships in a market with notable growth potential, where the modernisation of airport infrastructure is becoming increasingly relevant”.

Pilot projects and in-flight demonstrations

One of the highlights of the congress will be the opportunity to present our projects, where attendees will be able to see first-hand the real-world application of these ITE technologies developed in Central America and Latin America, with cases such as:

• Belo Horizonte (Brazil), where ITE has signed an agreement with BH Airport for the development of a pilot project, based on the use of CANARD by ITE, focused on drone-based aerodrome inspections, particularly in the inspection of visual aids and runway systems.All of this is led by Pedro Stochi, a true reference in the regulation and safe operation of drones in airports.
• Costa Rica, where official in-flight inspection services have already been carried out and will continue this year.

As the Director of Drone Solutions underlines, “the importance of these initiatives lies in the fact that they are not limited to a theoretical level, but rather demonstrate real operations carried out at airports that are already incorporating these technologies into their day-to-day activities, evidencing their viability and value in complex operational contexts”.

Innovation applied to safety and efficiency

The evolution of drone solutions is transforming the aeronautical sector, delivering greater precision in inspection, reduced operational costs and improved safety.

ITE’s presence at IFIS Central America reinforces its commitment to innovation in air navigation and to the development of technologies oriented towards the real needs of airports, air navigation service providers, civil aviation authorities and air forces.