Airport professionals from around the world attend ACI-ICAO course in Dubai

The course, first of a mandatory four courses required to complete the three-year programme, focused on the topics of Air Transportation System Overview and Airport Strategic Business Planning.

Speaking to the candidates attending the course, Mohammed Ahli, Director General of DCAA and First Vice President of ACI Asia-Pacific, highlighted the significance of the aviation industry as part of the infrastructure and backbone of a nation's economy. "This programme is designed to help professionals master concepts and practices that are at the very heart of airport management. The programme covers everything from airport development and financing to airport-airlines interface management and revenue generation, optimisation of safety and security systems, environmental management and community relations."

Mr. Ahli added, "Apart from promoting the recognition of professional excellence in airport management the AMPAP will actively expand communication among airport management staff around the world and thereby optimise knowledge sharing among the world's airports."

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, paid a visit to the training hub and met with candidates attending the course. Referring to the massive civil aviation expansion programmes underway across the region, he said the sector will require professionals who are aware of emerging best practices in airport management. The participation of Dubai Airports staff in the training programme, he said, was an indication of the company's drive to not only to be the biggest but also the best airport in the world.

The AMPAP is the first global programme of its kind and is the world's only course-based accreditation programme for airport executives delivered both face-to-face and online. The programme is open to all professionals who occupy a management position within a civil airport organization, and leads to the International Airport Professional (IAP) designation for successful candidates. Holders of the IAP designation will be recognised by both ACI and ICAO as having achieved highly rigorous standards for expertise in the field of airport management.

The programme aims to increase professional knowledge and capability of airport management staff with a view to improve the performance of airports in their core missions of safety, security, efficiency, quality, social/environmental responsibility, among others. The AMPAP seeks to spread awareness of best practices in airport management the world over, and ensure understanding and compliance of uniform standards.

Dubai became a training hub for the programme following the signing of an agreement between DCAA and ACI during the governing board meeting in March last year.

The ACI is an organisation of 573 members, who represent a total of 1,648 airports in 178 countries. The governing board consists of 29 CEOs and top officials from leading airports in the world.