ITE strengthens its international projection at IFIS 2026, the major global flight inspection event held for the first time in Central America
During the first week of May, El Salvador became the international epicentre of flight inspection and air navigation with the celebration of the International Flight Inspection Symposium 2026 (IFIS), one of the most significant technical events in the global aeronautical sector.
In this edition, marked by strong international participation and the prominence of new technologies applied to operational safety, Integración Tecnológica Empresarial was represented by Juan Díaz and Paula García, who attended on behalf of the company at a forum that brought together aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, manufacturers and technology companies from five continents.
The selection of El Salvador as the host country for IFIS 2026 also represented a milestone for the region. This was the first time the international symposium had been held in Central America, following previous editions staged in Asia, Europe and North America, including the 2024 edition held in Japan. A decision that reflects the growth of the Central American aeronautical ecosystem.
During the event, the international aviation industry focused on some of the sector’s major technological challenges: the modernisation of CNS/ATM systems, the automation of inspection and calibration processes, the incorporation of artificial intelligence, as well as the growing role of drones in airport operations and navigation aid validation.
A strategic meeting point for the aviation of the future
The IFIS 2026 edition brought together delegations and experts from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey and China, consolidating the event as one of the leading forums for technical and strategic exchange in the fields of air navigation and flight inspection.
For ITE, participation in this international forum provided an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the sector’s technological evolution and to share perspectives with some of the world’s leading industry players.
According to Paula García, UAS Business Development at ITE, the company’s presence at IFIS 2026 confirms “the growing importance of drone-based technologies within airport inspection and validation processes, as well as the need to continue advancing towards more efficient, safer and more sustainable solutions”.
The event also served to identify an increasingly established trend within the sector: the convergence of automation, advanced data analysis and precision air operations.
“A context in which ITE is very well positioned, as the use of our technological solutions applied to airport inspection and calibration is highly proven thanks to our international presence in more than 26 countries, with over 600 inspections carried out across 100 airports,” Paula added.
Drones, digitalisation and new operational capabilities
One of the most significant aspects of the symposium was the prominence of UAV solutions applied to air navigation and radio aid validation, an area that encompasses a substantial part of the sector’s technological evolution.
In this context, ITE attended the international event showcasing the capabilities of CANARD by ITE, the company’s technological solution focused on airport inspection, calibration and analysis using drones, designed to optimise validation and maintenance operations within aeronautical environments. The company’s presence at IFIS 2026 also enabled it to exchange perspectives with some of the sector’s leading international stakeholders at an event organised by the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA) and supervised by the International Committee for Airspace Standards and Calibration (ICASC), with the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The symposium established itself as a platform for technical dialogue, cooperation and knowledge exchange between aviation authorities, air navigation providers and specialised technology companies. The event also received the support of leading international companies and groups such as Indra Group, Safran, Volaris, Rohde & Schwarz, Aerodata AG and Norwegian Special Mission, reinforcing the global and highly specialised nature of the gathering.
As highlighted by Juan Díaz during the event, “the sector is evolving towards models in which digitalisation, automation and UAV capabilities will play an increasingly significant role in the coming years”.
In order to be well positioned within this transformation, he added, “it will be important to comply with the technical and safety requirements imposed internationally by Civil Aviation Authorities and Air Navigation Service Providers in different countries, whom we were able to engage with thanks to our participation in IFIS 2026, which also enabled initial contacts for future projects in countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica and El Salvador, among others”.
The staging of IFIS 2026 also demonstrated the growing global interest in developing more agile and sustainable solutions capable of complementing traditional flight inspection systems, particularly in a context marked by the modernisation of airport infrastructures and increasing international air traffic.
International projection and strategic vision
ITE’s participation in IFIS 2026 forms part of the company’s internationalisation and technological growth strategy, particularly in the field of drone solutions and technologies applied to the aeronautical sector.
The company’s presence at a forum of this nature also strengthens its ability to integrate into the leading international aeronautical innovation ecosystems, sharing knowledge with organisations, manufacturers and operators specialised in air navigation and operational safety.