Emiratisation gathers pace at the Air Traffic Control at Dubai International Airport

The ATC which is the heart of airport operations now boasts of 78 UAE Nationals in various degrees of seniority from general managers to air traffic controllers.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group, commented: "It is a matter of great pride for me that UAE Nationals are gaining the experience and confidence to undertake a huge responsibility as the air traffic control. The Emiratisation programme is of great importance to the Department of Civil Aviation. Implementing this programme means achieving one of the country's top objectives which is to improve the nationals standard of living, as well as to provide them with jobs that will enable them to participate in the decision making process. We want the younger generation to take pride in what they do and in turn make their country proud."

Currently the number of UAE Nationals in the various sections of ATC are as follows: 44 in air traffic control and radar control, eight in the Met office, 19 in electronic engineering (which takes care of various equipment such as the radar, the instrument landing systems etc) and seven in the aeronautical information services.

Mr Mohammad Ahli, Director, Operations, commented: "We want to take in more and more UAE Nationals. But we are a bit restricted due to the continuous immense growth in air traffic movement and the regulations which allow us only one trainee at a time in the control tower. This is a very important and a high risk job. To be a certified air traffic controller one has to undergo not just theoretical training but serious on-the-job training. Hence our programme is a continuously progressive one. We have very bright students and we encourage them."