GCAA hosts the ICAO Multi Crew Pilot License Symposium

It was organised by GCAA in cooperation with the Alteon and Jeppesen (both Boeing subsidiaries).

The purpose of the Symposium was to have the industry experts share the vision with the local aviation industry on the implementation of this new pilot's license.

The Symposium was organized by Waleed Ghanim, the Chief of Licensing, GCAA, and Kirk Quong Sing, General Manager for Training, Jeppesen.

Mohammed Abu Baker, GCAA Director Aviation Safety & Security, inaugurated the symposium on behalf of Mohammed Ghanim Al Ghaith, the Director General of GCAA.

Keynote speakers included Mr. Mohammed Khonji, ICAO Middle East Regional Director who spoke about the ICAO perspective on MPL, Capt Bud Oaster, Director CAE Programs who spoke about the need for proper screening and selection of the future pilot pool, and Marsha Bell, VP First Officer Programs, Alteon, presented on the concept of MPL and how it might be implemented.

Mr. Mohammed Abu Baker said, 'The GCAA fully endorses the call made by the aviation industry regarding MPL training as the current regulatory regime with respect to ab-initio training may not be the most efficient way to cater for rapid future growth. The GCAA will play a proactive role and will attempt to demonstrate its benefits to the community in this region.'

The Symposium was attended by 40 participants from local Flight Schools and Airlines.

The ICAO MPL was recently published as an update to Annex 1 that allows an alternative means of training to qualify pilots as airline first officers.