Middle East Aviation Safety Summit sets global safety agenda

The first Middle East Aviation Safety Summit is being jointly hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) under the patronage of of H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE.

In his opening remarks, HE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Development for Government Sector and chairman of the GCAA, said that rapid developments in the aviation industry made it imperative to introduce a raft of safety initiatives to ensure safety standards kept ahead of innovations in the industry.

"The introduction of mega sized aircraft, new composite micro-carbon fiber airframes, super high by-pass ratio engines, air traffic management problems including joint use airspace, a severe shortage of trained air traffic controllers and pilots, ageing aircraft, complex airport runway systems and meteorological changes are just some of the current challenges to safe aviation," Al Mansoori said.

HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of ADAC, said that the Summit was the first of its kind to be held under the parameters of the recently launched Global Aviation Safety Road Map, an initiative of the International Safety Strategy Group (ISSG).

"The significance of the roadmap is that it is an initiative that involves all the stakeholders of the aviation community worldwide. It involves international organizations and associations, airport operators like ADAC, aircraft operators, and manufacturers, service providers and professional pilots. This approach changes the culture and paradigms of global aviation safety."

The ISSG was formed two years ago and its members include the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); International Air Transport Association (IATA); Airport Council International (ACI); International Federation of Airlines Pilots Association (IFALPA); Flight Safety Foundation (FSF); Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO); and aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing.

Al Mansoori said case studies of best practices from around the world would provide the aviation sector with a clear direction for future safety initiatives. "The inclusion of the UAE on the Steering Committee of the ICAO - Africa Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety underlines the advanced status of the UAE in the international aviation community, as well as the level of our commitment to the overall advancement and improvement of civil aviation worldwide," Al Mansoori said.

He added that the UAE, in cooperation with ICAO, IATA and the FSF, will host a major summit in October of this year to address the shortage and development of a new generation of aviation professionals. "The newly established, state of the art aviation training facilities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaima are yet more indication of the UAE's commitment to aviation safety," he added.

HE Mohammed Abdullah Al Salami, deputy chairman, director general of GCAA said that the Summit will declare the Abu Dhabi Resolution for a Regional Aviation Safety Plan of Action, in accordance with the Global Road Map. "The summit will further serve as the institutional and organizational blue prints for other regions to launch similar initiatives. With commitment, vision, planning and determination, we are on our way to make Abu Dhabi, the capital of aviation safety and security".

"In a relatively short time, the UAE has established a strong and leading presence within ICAO and its worldwide community in the campaign for global aviation safety and security. This outstanding success is an excellent indication of good will and visionary approach of the UAE Government to build a modern aviation infrastructure and positively influence the making of similar initiatives around the world." Said Ambassador Edward Stimpson, Chairman of the Board of the Flight Safety Foundation.

Khalifa Al Mazrouei said that the aviation sector needs to constantly learn from the painful lessons of the past, such as the tragic disaster in the Tenerife, in 1977 that wasted of 583 lives.

He said that safety must be seen as an ongoing challenge and that the Abu Dhabi Summit provides a forum for tackling the many and complex challenges for a safer future.