UAE to host the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel meeting of the working group of the 2010

Giving the importance of the UAE role in the region in Aviation Industry and in its continuous efforts to ensure safe carriage of dangerous goods and implementation of the highest safety standard, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority representing the United Arab Emirates has been recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization to host the Dangerous Goods Panel Meeting of the Working Group of the Whole 2010.

Moreover...the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority proposed to host emergency meetings, if and when required, to discuss urgent safety issues related to Dangerous Goods, which cannot wait till the next Panel or its Working Group is convened. This has been also appreciated and positively considered by the ICAO, based on which the UAE has been nominated to host ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel emergency meeting(s).

While the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel Meeting of the Working Group of the Whole 2009 is currently running in Montreal, Canada,. Saif Muhammed Al Suwaidi - Director General GCAA was very keen to attend the meeting to reassure the commitment and the honor for the United Arab Emirates to continue its support to the aviation industry and to the ICAO in particular.

In His speech he appreciated the Dangerous Goods Panel Secretary Dr. Katherine Roony and Panel Members' states for their efforts and their continuous support to the United Arab Emirates.

Also highlighted how it is indeed a great honor and privilege for UAE as an ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel Member State to participate in such prestigious meeting.

He advised how the UAE is fully aware of the increase of movement of Dangerous goods by air day by day with globalization and expansion of free market enterprise throughout the world, not withstanding the recent recession, which hopefully is a temporary phase.

To ensure safe carriage of such goods and manage the associated risk to aircraft and its occupants, it is the responsibility of each contracting State, under the provisions of the Chicago Convention, to introduce these provisions into their national legislation and more importantly, manage them.

This system ensures Regulatory control over the carriage of dangerous goods by air and provides for world-wide harmonization of safety standards.

The UAE fully appreciate the monumental work and efforts put in by this particular panel which is of significant value in ensuring sustenance and enhancement of such safety standards. The UAE is more than confident that, this elite panel will leave no stone unturned to bestow and protect this aspect of air transportation to make it safe and efficient.

In his speech, HE appreciated the efforts made by Hamad Al Muhairi - Chief Safety & Security of UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and his team of advisors P. Balasubramanian - Manager Cargo Global Operations Services, Emirates Airline,.

Paul King - Manager Cargo Standard and Compliance, Etihad Airways and Ahmed Wagih - Safety and Security Inspector, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, for shouldering such responsibility as the participating delegation representing the United Arab Emirates in the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel.

The UAE has experienced and still experiencing unprecedented growth of aviation sector which, inter alia, includes the important aspect of handling and processing Dangerous Goods in accordance with ICAO requirements.

Therefore, hosting the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel Meeting in UAE, would give the aviation industry in this region a strong impetus and increase awareness of all the stakeholders through this outreach.