Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to organise 'Sky Blue - The Arab Aviation Summit'

The conference is under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar.

The conference is unlike any other held in the Arab world, said H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi, Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and member of the Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC) executive committee: "Sky Blue - The Arab Aviation Summit is an affirmative step by aviation authorities from the region to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment.

"With the support of our peers in the region as well as the invaluable experience we can gain from the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme, all aviation authorities from across the region will together aim to reach a consensus on developing a concrete foundation for a practical and robust aviation environment policy,"

said the QCAA Chairman.

The summit will welcome top officials and members of the Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC) and Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO), representing the most high-profile cross section of industry leaders gathering under one roof in recent years.

Among the key invitees to "Sky Blue - The Arab Aviation Summit" are representatives from the European Union's Rules & Policy Making body who will discuss the potential of Global vs Unilateral Emissions Trading Schemes, as well as the successes and challenges in implementing the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, which has been in operation since 2003.

The summit will also feature key regional aviation industry stalwarts such as Mr Mohammad Al-Alj, Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Commission (ACAC) and Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO).

Both Mr Al-Alj and Mr Teffaha have been strong advocates of sustainable proliferation within the airlines sector, and have led their respective regional policymaking bodies in the implementation of new generation management systems and technologies to promote efficiency in the airline sector.

The Summit will host five closed sessions over two days covering Global vs Unilateral Emissions Trading Schemes, Beyond Kyoto - Aviation Agenda for Copenhagen 2009, Alternative Energy Sources in the Arab World, The Role of Arab Aviation Stakeholders in Protecting the Environment, and A Factual Review of the European Emissions Trading Scheme.

Qatar has been chosen to host this prominent Arab Aviation Summit due to its growing role within the industry both as an operator as well as a centre of research excellence.

Whilst Air Transport in the region has in recent years made giant leaps in the reduction of carbon-dioxide through the utilisation of new and more efficient aircraft engines, countries such as Qatar have also invested in research to develop alternative fuels such as GTL (or Gas to Liquids) Aviation fuel which mimics Aviation-grade kerosene whilst practically eliminating the associated nitrogen and sulphur emissions normally associated with petroleum-based fuels.

Qatar is today at the forefront of the region's aviation industry, led by the rise in global prominence of its national carrier Qatar Airways, as well as the New Doha International Airport, which will make Doha one of the largest aircraft terminals in the region by 2015, when it can welcome up to 50m passengers a year and have the capacity to support a large potion of the air cargo traffic in the GCC region.