Wajahat Beg

Wajahat Beg is a senior aviation policy leader with over 20 years of experience shaping regulatory frameworks and enabling complex, safety-critical operations across global aviation, advanced air mobility, and emerging aerospace systems.

He currently serves as Director of Aviation Policy, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance at AALTO HAPS, where he leads multi-country policy strategies and engages with ICAO on advocating innovation in airspace and regulators such as the FAA and EASA to secure approvals for high-altitude platform system (HAPS) operations. His work focuses on advancing innovation in regulatory environments that are still evolving, particularly in the integration of stratospheric operations into conventional airspace systems.

Wajahat has extensive experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, engaging governments, regulators, and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to enable safe, scalable operations. He has led discussions on cross-border flight coordination, airspace segregation, and integration of stratospheric platforms, helping define operational concepts for high-altitude flight, including coordination with air traffic management systems and emerging approaches to unmanned traffic management (UTM).

Prior to AALTO, Wajahat held leadership roles at Loon (Alphabet), Starship Technologies, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). At ICAO, he contributed to the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP), leading audits and advising States on compliance with international safety standards while supporting the development of global aviation policy frameworks.  His earlier experience at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) involved working with over 300 airlines to implement operational, safety, and environmental programs, including contributions to global fuel efficiency and emissions reduction initiatives.

Wajahat began his career as a design and project engineer in the aerospace sector, contributing to aircraft design, certification, and airworthiness programs, including work on the Airbus A380 and Bombardier aircraft certification projects. This technical foundation continues to inform his policy work, allowing him to bridge engineering realities with regulatory frameworks.

Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for innovation in aviation, representing organizations at international and regional forums including ICAO, EASA engagements, and broader industry dialogues. He has contributed to advancing policy discussions on high-altitude operations, future airspace architectures, and multi-aircraft coordination in emerging environments, including work aligned with UTM concepts and high-altitude operational integration.

A former Commanding Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, he brings a unique combination of military leadership, engineering expertise, and global policy experience. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Royal Military College of Canada and continues to play a leading role in shaping the future of aviation, particularly in the integration of drones, HAPS, and next-generation aerospace systems.