Cathal Mac Criostail

Biography

Cathal Mac Criostail has worked in Air Traffic Management with AirNav Ireland (previously Irish Aviation Authority ANSP), for over 30 years.

He has had a number of roles in that time, including:

• Operational Enroute ATCO/FIS
• Watch Supervisor (with responsibility for Safety Management in the Shannon Enroute Centre)
• ATS Instructor
• ATC Operations Manager for Cork and Shannon Tower Business Units

His current role is AirNav Ireland Manager Airspace and Navigation which includes a focus on U-Space and UTM.

This reflects his involvement with Drone operators and U-Space more generally, since 2013.

He currently is a member of the Borealis Alliance U-Space group and the CANSO UAS/UTM Taskforce. He is also the AirNav Ireland point of contact for a number of SJU Digital Sky Demonstration Projects in Ireland.

He firmly believes that we are on the cusp of reaching a clear roadmap for integration of U-space in a short timeframe, reflecting the speed of development of the industry. He also believes that having ANSPs involved can only serve to optimise the U-space market.

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