Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and CEO, has called on Asia to join in the race for aviation industry leadership while offering some harsh words for aviation security. Regarding the former:  “Asia has over 50% of the world’s population, and will be our largest single market by 2010.  Asia needs to be part of the race to lead the industry with sound policies and innovation, along with the commercial race for market share,” said Bisignani. But finding skilled personnel will be a challenge.  17,000 new pilots need to be trained a year to operate the 16,000 new aircraft needed by 2020. That is 40,000 more than current capacity.  With the fast growing markets in Asia, there will be a large requirement for pilots, mechanics and cabin crew. Regarding aviation security, Bisignani said “the industry is much more secure than in 2001. But the system is still an uncoordinated mess.  We have not harmonized measures across borders.  Singapore took a major step and signed an agreement with the EU to harmonize the security of duty-free items.  But why was it not an agreement that covers Asia with mutually recognized standards?  Our passengers deserve much better leadership than the patchwork of different standards and procedures we have today.  Asia should be thinking of a regional security area with harmonized rules and tools using the best modern technology.” Stated the head of IATA:  “Asia is our industry’s present and its future.  Running an airline is tough business, and Asia has done well.  The race for market share and growth has been won.  Now we need a unique race for leadership that involves key players from the region from fast developing China and India, to more traditional players like Japan, Singapore or Australia, and everyone in between.  The leadership vision is needed to build an industry that is even safer, more secure, and delivering an industry that is financially sound and efficient.”