Richard J. Ducharme was appointed Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Organization (ATO) on July 7, 2011. In his 30-year career with the FAA, he has had extensive experience in leading, directing, and managing air traffic services, including most recently as the Senior Vice President of Operations. As Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Ducharme is responsible for ensuring the safety, efficiency,and security of air traffic operations across the entire National Airspace System.  

There I a need to improve globally the ATM network:
Could you evaluate the added value of the cooperation between The United States' Federal Aviation Administration and the European ANSP A6 alliance in the implementation of the future ATM infrastructure?

The opportunity for the FAA to work with the ANSP's under the A6 was too good to pass up. The A6 is responsible for implementing the operational improvements and technologies of the future across most of Europe.  Because of this, we have a great chance to work together and learn from each other to figure out the best approach to the implementation of NextGen and Single Skies.We're off to a really good start.  We've identified a set of key areas of interest, like DataComm and networking as well as how we can make sure that our ATCO's are prepared for change.The single most important thing that we can do collaboratively is to pare down to our common priorities between the FAA and the A6. 

That would lead to better information sharing and strategies for quicker and more efficient deployments.United States and Europe are the most developed Countries in Air Traffic Management: What do you think about the integration between NextGen and SESAR?

Let's face it, the US and Europe are at the forefront of developing the systems that will sustain air transportation over the next thirty to forty years.  We need to work together so that we don't have conflicting technologies.  We're working with SESAR to identify what needs to be identical, what needs to be compatible and what needs to be synchronized.  And I've said it many times, we are working with our European partners to make sure that the changes in NextGen and SESAR are driven by the needs of the operation, and enabled by the technologies - operationally driven, technology enhanced with a serious and realistic concern for affordability.

This year the ICAO ANC will take place. What are your expectations from such important symposium?

The ANC only happens every decade or so. There is a reason for that.ICAO hosts an Air Navigation Conference when there is something big and transformational happening. That's what we're doing at ANC/12.  They've got a new Global Air Navigation Plan, and they are rolling out the concept of the Block Upgrades. We've been working hand-in-hand for over a year now with ICAO along with the European Commission and SESAR to make sure that we have one approach to global harmonization.  At ANC/12, I think you'll see some good results for a global vision of the future.

The Trade Association General Meeting is taking place this year in Rome:What is CANSO's role to support the revitalization of Air Transport?

CANSO has a responsibility to become a force in air transportation, much as you see in the way IATA has become a leader in the industry.  CANSO needs to be the voice that actually bridges the needs, concerns and functionality necessary to manage air navigation.If not CANSO, then who? I'm honored to join the CANSO Executive Committee this year, and will work hard to make sure that CANSO meets this responsibility.