BIOS

Nelson Armando Higuera

Nelson Armando Higuera

Aeronáutica Civil, Colombia

Nelson Armando Higuera, Operational Safety Manager / Aeronáutica Civil, Colombia
Nelson Higuera is an Air Traffic Controller with 24 years of operational experience and a recognized expert in aviation safety management. He currently serves as Safety Manager for both Air Navigation Services and Airport Services in Colombia, contributing to the strengthening of safety performance within the national aviation system.
Throughout his career, he has developed extensive experience in air traffic control operations, safety oversight, ATS incident investigation, operational risk management, and the implementation of Safety Management Systems within aviation service providers. His background includes direct operational experience at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, one of the busiest and most complex airports in Latin America, where he served as Head of the Control Tower and participated in the management of high-density air traffic operations.
Nelson has also worked as a safety advisor for the implementation of operational concepts in Bogotá, supporting the integration of new procedures, technologies, and safety strategies within the air traffic services environment. His professional experience includes the implementation and continuous improvement of SMS processes for both the Air Navigation Service Provider and Airport Services Provider, with a strong focus on hazard identification, risk assessment, safety assurance, and operational resilience.
In addition to his operational and safety background, Nelson is trained as an Industrial Engineer and Flight Procedure Designer, which allows him to integrate technical, operational, and organizational perspectives into aviation safety management. As an ATS incident investigator, he applies structured analysis methodologies to identify contributing factors, promote learning, and support effective safety recommendations.
His approach to aviation safety is based on integrated safety management, with special emphasis on human factors, operational interfaces, teamwork, communication, decision-making, and continuous improvement. Nelson is committed to strengthening a proactive safety culture and supporting the safe, efficient, and resilient development of air navigation and airport operations in Colombia.

Bernardo Tomaz de Castro

Director, Safety Office
ANAC Brazil

Bernardo Tomaz de Castro

Safety Office
ANAC Brazil

Bernardo Castrol holds a solid academic background, with a postgraduate “lato sensu” degree in Legislative Process from Instituto IMP de Ensino Superior and a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Brasília (UnB).

He joined the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) in 2010 as a Civil Aviation Regulation Specialist and has since built a distinguished career marked by significant contributions at both national and international levels in the field of aviation safety. Between 2012 and 2018, he served as the National Continuous Monitoring Coordinator (NCMC) for the Brazilian State under the ICAO USOAP programme, during which Brazil underwent an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM). From 2017 to 2018, he also participated in the Group of Experts for a USOAP CMA Structured Review (GEUSR), contributing to the review of the programme’s methodology.

Between 2020 and 2022, he served as Data Protection Officer within ANAC, in accordance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD). Since 2023, he has held the position of Head of the ANAC Safety Office, having coordinated, in the same year, Brazil’s participation in both the USOAP Focused Audit and the State Safety Programme Implementation Assessment (SSPIA). From 2023 to 2025, he acted as coordinator of the Permanent Technical Group of the Brazilian State Safety Committee, being responsible, among other duties, for the development and monitoring of Brazil’s National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP).

Col (Ret.) Silvio Monteiro Junior

CEO
SARCORPS

Col (Ret.) Silvio Monteiro Junior

CEO
SARCORPS

Silvio Monteiro Junior is a specialist in search and rescue (SAR), aviation safety, and crisis communication, with over 30 years of experience in real-world operations and the management of complex incidents. He served as an officer in the Brazilian Air Force, where he worked as a helicopter pilot and SAR operations coordinator. He later assumed leadership roles within the national SAR system, overseeing the provision of services across an area of approximately 22 million square kilometers.

Throughout his career, he has been directly involved in critical scenarios requiring decision-making under pressure and coordination among multiple stakeholders, including authorities, operational teams, and the media. He represented Brazil for more than a decade at the International Civil Aviation Organization and within the COSPAS-SARSAT Programme, contributing to international discussions on aviation safety and accident response. His experience combines operational expertise with the management of information in high-exposure crisis environments.

Following his transition to the private sector, he has led strategic SAR projects across multiple countries in Latin America, focusing on system development and the enhancement of operational capabilities.

As an author, he has published works on aviation safety and crisis management, including a book on the Air France 447 accident (2022), which inspired a miniseries on Globoplay, and VOEPASS 2283: Tragedy and Disinformation (2026), in which he analyzes the impact of misinformation in high-exposure crisis scenarios.

He currently serves as an executive in the private sector and as an international speaker, addressing topics such as crisis communication, aviation safety, crisis management, and decision-making under pressure.

Gianfranco "Panda" Beting

CEO
JETGROUP

Gianfranco "Panda" Beting

CEO
JETGROUP

Gianfranco “Panda” Beting is a Brazilian airline marketing specialist, author, and co-founder of major airlines. Known by the nickname “Panda,” he is widely considered one of the leading experts in airline branding and aviation history.

He was the first employee and co-founder of Azul Linhas Aéreas (Brazil) and later co-founded Breeze Airways (USA) alongside David Neeleman.

Brand Architect: Beting is the creative mind behind the visual identities, logos, and liveries of several airlines, including Azul, Breeze, TAP Air Portugal, and Transbrasil. His professional journey began at age 12 when the founder of Transbrasil invited him to choose the color schemes for the airline’s Boeing fleet.

Key Achievements

Author: He has published 18 books on commercial aviation and history. An avid spotter, he has a collection of over 900,000 photos of commercial airliners and has logged more than 2,800 flights on over 210 different airlines. He serves as the publisher of Flap International, a prominent aviation magazine.

Awards: Named “Aviation Personality of the Year” in 2021 by the Aviões e Músicas Awards. Named “Ambassador of Congonhas” in 2026.

Gerardo Hueto

Director of Safety
Flight Safety Foundation

Gerardo Hueto

Director of Safety
Flight Safety Foundation

Gerardo Hueto is Director of Safety at the Flight Safety Foundation, where he supports the Foundation’s global safety initiatives and works with industry stakeholders to advance practical, data-driven approaches to risk identification, mitigation, and safety performance improvement. He brings more than four decades of international aviation experience spanning engineering, airline operations, regulatory safety, system safety, and industry collaboration.

Before joining the Foundation, Gerardo served as Senior Manager, Corporate Safety, at G2 Secure Staff (Menzies Aviation); Assistant Director, Safety for The Americas, at the International Air Transport Association (IATA); Senior Safety Engineer in the FAA Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention; Assistant Director, Safety and Flight Operations – Asia Pacific, at IATA; Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer for Aviation System Safety at Boeing Commercial Airplanes; and Director of Quality Assurance & Fleet Safety and Director of Fleet Safety at Alaska Airlines.

Earlier in his career, he held engineering and technical leadership positions with Bombardier Regional Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas.

Throughout his career, Gerardo has led and supported major safety initiatives involving Safety Management Systems, risk analysis, accident and incident investigation, quality assurance, audit oversight, and operational safety performance. He has worked extensively with collaborative safety programs and international safety groups, including CAST, ICAO regional aviation safety teams, and data-sharing and safety enhancement initiatives. His experience includes developing regional safety enhancements, supporting data-driven risk mitigation strategies, strengthening safety culture, and helping build consensus among airlines, regulators, manufacturers, and service providers across the Americas and Asia Pacific.

Paulo Razaboni

Flight Safety Specialist
Embraer

Paulo Razaboni

Flight Safety Specialist
Embraer

Electronic Engineer with postgraduate degrees in Communication Networks and Cybersecurity, Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention, Production Management, and Administration. He also holds a Black Belt certification in Six Sigma.

Currently, he is an Investigator, Data Analysis Specialist, and Innovator at Embraer S.A., Brazil, where he has worked for nineteen years and participated in hundreds of investigations involving commercial, executive, and defense aviation, developing a specific application for events analysis through 3-D animation called “Flyback”.

He represents the company on national and international committees focused on improving flight safety, is the author of several publications related to data analysis, statistics, forecasting and crew training, and conducts training on investigation, safety culture, engineering design and human factors.

He also works on developing innovative solutions with a primary focus on safety for the company’s portfolio.

Billy Nolen

Archer Aviation, and Former Acting
FAA

Billy Nolen

Archer Aviation, and Former Acting
FAA

Billy Nolen is the Chief Regulatory Officer at Archer Aviation. In this position, he plays a leadership role to help Archer more effectively collaborate with industry stakeholders and help ensure eVTOL’s safe entry into service as it prepares for planned commercialization in 2025.

Before joining Archer, Nolen served as the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration where he led certification reform and new safety management systems for airports. Prior to that, he was the associate administrator of aviation safety for the FAA, which covers more than one million registered aircraft, more than one million active pilots, thousands of approved manufacturers, and over 50,000 flights every day.

During his time with the FAA, Nolen led the agency’s efforts to enable the safe entry of eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace and has been a strong advocate for the eVTOL aircraft industry and its role in changing the way the world moves.

Billy Nolen is an experienced aviation safety professional with more than 40 years of experience in corporate safety, regulatory affairs, and flight operations. He began his career in 1989 as a pilot for American Airlines, flying Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft as well as the then-McDonnell Douglas MD-80. He was later promoted to manage the carrier’s Aviation Safety Action Program.

His passion for operation and safety led him to continue rising through the management ranks to become the airline’s managing director for corporate safety and regulatory affairs. Nolen was a senior executive at Airlines for America and worked in safety leadership positions at numerous other airlines, including Qantas Airways, where he played a key role in the Qantas Group Safety Governance Framework, and WestJet in Calgary, Alberta where he was the Vice President of Safety, Security and Quality.

In addition to his professional aviation experience, Nolen served tours of duty in the U.S. Army as an airplane and helicopter pilot and safety officer.

Nolen graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management and has certificates in aviation safety from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, U.S. Army Safety Center, and the University of Southern California. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) and has traveled extensively across the globe.

Waleska Fortini

Emergency Response Manager
LATAM Airlines Group

Waleska
Fortini

Emergency Response Manager
LATAM Airlines Group

Waleska Fortini is Emergency Response Manager at LATAM Airlines Group, where she leads crisis management and emergency response strategy across one of the largest airline networks in the Americas. With over two decades in aviation safety, she has been at the forefront of some of the industry’s most critical moments, including the response to the TAM 3054 accident—an experience that shaped her leadership in high-stakes environments.

Today, she directs LATAM’s Emergency Response Program across all affiliates, driving operational readiness, cross-border coordination, and long-term family assistance strategies that align with global best practices. Her work has contributed to strengthening how airlines prepare for and respond to major crises.

A recognized voice in the international aviation community, Waleska is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Emergency Response Planning Task Force and founder of ALTA’s Emergency Response Group. She also contributes to ICAO’s work on assistance to aircraft accident victims and their families, helping shape global standards in this critical area.

Waleska holds degrees in Business Administration and Business Management, along with a Certification in Aviation Business from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Capt. Fernando Castillo

Safety & Security Manager
Aerolíneas Argentinas

Capt. Fernando Castillo

Safety & Security Manager
Aerolíneas Argentinas

Fernando Castillo is an Airbus A330 Captain and Safety & Security Manager at Aerolíneas Argentinas, with over 30 years of experience in commercial aviation.

He specializes in the implementation and leadership of Safety Management Systems (SMS), with a strong focus on data-driven safety, risk management, and the development of organizational safety culture. Throughout his career, he has led key initiatives such as the implementation of Flight Data Monitoring (FOQA) programs across large fleets and the deployment of LOSA programs in collaboration with international partners.

In addition to his operational and management roles, Fernando has an active presence in the global aviation safety community. He serves as Chairman of A-CAST (Aviation Safety Action Group), an ICAO-promoted initiative, and is a member of the SkyTeam Safety Group, contributing to the advancement of safety standards at an international level.

His professional background combines extensive flight experience across multiple aircraft types —including Airbus A330/A340, Boeing 737 and 747, and MD-80— with a strategic leadership role in aviation safety, positioning him as a key voice in the evolution of proactive and systemic safety management.

Rodolfo
Quevedo

Regional Safety Director, Americas
FRAeS

Rodolfo Quevedo

Regional Safety Director, Americas
FRAeS

Rudy Quevedo currently serves as the Regional Safety Director for Airbus in the Americas Region.

Rudy Joined Airbus in 2020 where he now represents the company on matters of safety and technical affairs. In this role he works directly with operators, national and international organizations, and other aviation stakeholders to enhance operational safety.

Prior to Airbus Rudy held key positions in aviation safety including Director of Safety at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Director of Global Programs at Flight Safety Foundation.

Rudy is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and has served on various ICAO panels and Working Groups supporting the enhancement of operational safety standards and recommended practices. He has also served as an independent technical advisor on several aviation ventures.

His technical background includes more than 45 years of experience working with airlines at various levels in maintenance, engineering, quality, flight safety, accident investigation, and has led projects related to the integration of organizational values aligned with safety, compliance, and resilience.

Santiago
Saltos

Regional Safety Director, Latin America & Caribbean
Airbus

Santiago Saltos

Regional Safety Director, Latin America & Caribbean
Airbus

Santiago Saltos serves as the Regional Safety Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Airbus. Since joining the company in June 2019, Santiago has been instrumental in coordinating safety initiatives that directly support Airbus customers and collaborating with global stakeholders to enhance the region’s aviation safety standards.

With a career spanning two decades, Santiago previously spent 13 years (2006–2019) as the Head of Tech Ops and Safety for the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA). During his tenure, he became a key figure in the region, navigating complex challenges across maintenance, engineering, and industry affairs.

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