NTRO recently participated in the Australian Airports Association (AAA) National Conference and Industry Expo 2024, held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference, themed "Airports of Tomorrow: Innovation and Excellence," brought together 500+ delegates from across the aviation industry.
NTRO's airport leads and technical specialists Nathan Wallace and Johan Cronje delivered a presentation sharing insights from NTRO's advisory and project-based work across Australia and the Pacific – including work at Melbourne Airport, 16 regionals airports across Western Australia and the important partnership with the government of the Kingdom of Tonga. The presentation also outlined NTRO’s research work for supporting airports with their transition to the new Pavement Classification Rating (PCR) system, including utilising a new approach for deflection testing using Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD) and how iPAVe technology offers next generation airport analysis contributing to testing time reductions for airports and their operators. The presentation also importantly acknowledged the various desktop options available to convert from PCN to the new PCR.
The national conference addressed important aspects of aviation's future, focusing on major infrastructure projects, sustainable aviation initiatives, and technological advancement in airport operations. Discussions centered on creating more efficient, sustainable, and ‘passenger-centric’ airports, reflecting the industry's commitment to innovation and service excellence.
The three-day event featured a comprehensive trade exhibition showcasing the latest industry innovations, as well as the National Airport Industry Awards Dinner, which recognised outstanding achievements in the aviation sector. 
Jason Sprott, NTRO's Executive Director of Ports & Airports, emphasised the NTRO's dedication: "NTRO remains a strong and committed member of the AAA, as we have a deep belief that advancement in the industry will come through strong collaboration with the industry - and the AAA brings together a deeply experienced and committed community of aviation professionals. On behalf of NTRO, thank you for the opportunity to once again present, discuss and collaborate at your fantastic event."
The successful event, led by the AAA team provided valuable opportunities for industry professionals to connect, share insights, and discuss emerging challenges in airport development and operations.
As airports continue to evolve as major infrastructure nodes and centres of innovation and sustainability, NTRO remains deeply committed to contributing its expertise to help shape the future of the industry.