Challenges facing aviation industry in ME discussed

MUSCAT — The high-level conference of the Civil Aviation Authorities Top Management of the 2nd Safety Summit for the Middle East Region hosted by the Sultanate concluded yesterday. Dr Mohammed bin Nasser al Zaabi, CEO of the Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA) sponsored the closing ceremony. He said that the conference aimed to examining the status of aviation security in the Middle East and to learn about the challenges facing this important aspect in the aviation industry and ways of meeting these challenges. He added that a number of working papers were discussed in the past two days by experts and professionals and those interested in aviation safety, noting that today was allocated to CEOs and DGs of airlines and airline operators, expressing the hope that the conference will come out with a set of recommendations to improve the development and management of aviation safety.

Talking about the readiness of Muscat International Airport, Dr Mohammed said that PACA has completed a set of actions, including the training of air traffic controllers and air traffic staff to move to the new control tower and air traffic management centre before the end of the year, noting that an integrated training plan has been developed in this aspect, referring to the continued efforts to open Salalah Airport before the end of the current year. For his part, Mohammed Ridha Mahmoud Khonji Regional Director of Civil Aviation in the Middle East indicated that air safety is one of the important strategies of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) stating that in the light of that strategy cooperation will be developed with airlines and other organisations to promote aviation safety in the Middle East.

He added in a statement to ONA that the current Summit discussed the amendments concerning aviation safety by addressing the strategy developed in 2013 and some amendments that were added to the strategy with a view to come up with a conclusion to modify the strategy, calling on all Member States to strengthen air safety by sending over the existing data they have about aviation. Capt Wahid bin Khalfan al Subhi, Acting Senior Director of Safety and Emergency Response at Oman Air said in his speech that the International Aviation Organisation stressed the importance of safety management, the responsibilities entrusted to the civil aviation authorities and the impact on regional initiatives and activities in this area in accordance with the global strategy to the roadmap on aviation safety. — ONA

Wednesday 30th, April 2014 / 00:28 Written by Oman Observer 

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