The airlines of the Latin American and Caribbean region accounted for nearly 14 billion tonne-kilometres of traffic in 1995, almost 5 per cent of the world total, and have shown a marked improvement in financial results in recent years. A report on the status of air transport in the region begins on page 5.

A recent study on airport capacity assessed possible measures to improve efficiency and safety. A report on some of the study's findings begins on page 14.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-90 twinjet, scheduled to enter service with Delta Air Lines in April 1995, was designed with the environment in mind. As noted in the article beginning on page 18, the new aircraft is the world's quietest large commercial jet transport.

Nearing completion on a 40-acre site is the United Kingdom's New En-Route Centre (NERC). The four-storey building was officially handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority in November 1994. Beginning late next year, the NERC will gradually assume operations from the London Air Traffic Control Centre.

This month the Journal features several articles that focus on training for air traffic controllers. Beginning on page 6 is an article that explores the benefits of training students in an international environment. Another article describes the role universities could play in meeting ATC training needs. Also in this issue is a report about an effort under way to improve ATC training in 15 African countries.

Featured on the cover this month is a typical ground earth station used for fixed telecommunication via satellite. This dish antenna is located in Germany. As highlighted in the article beginning on page 8, several matters of concern to the aviation community will be addressed by an ITU world radiocommunication conference this fall. ICAO has developed an aviation position it hopes will be supported by government delegations to the forthcoming meeting.

The Boeing 777 is the first civil aircraft to be designed entirely by computer and the first Boeing airliner to incorporate fly-by-wire controls. It is also the first Boeing aircraft to incorporate, as standard equipment, avionics for satellite-based navigation and communications. The new twinjet took to the air for the first time in June 1994, and entered service recently with launch customer United Airlines.

With the focus this month on safety; a veteran accident investigator highlights the impact of industry globalization on the process of accident investigation and presents the case for creating an independent, international accident investigation authority.

Three articles this month focus on the implementation of the world area forecast system (WAFS), which is entering the final phase of its implementation.

Between meetings at the ICAO Assembly that concluded last month in Montreal, delegates might have admired the painting featured on this month's cover -- one of numerous donated works of art on display at ICAO Headquarters. The surrealistic oil painting, presented to ICAO on the occasion of its S0th anniversary by the Interstate Aviation Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, was created by David Babayan, of Armenia. Mr. Babayan currently resides in Moscow.

Security: A matter of the highest priority.

Kansai International Airport, Japan's new gateway and first 24-hour airport, is scheduled to open in September 1994 at a total cost of U.S. $12.4 billion. The new airport's terminal building will be able to handle up to 30.7 million passengers annually.