middle east civil aviation safety summit to provide global air safety roadmap
Conference to be hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE
The Middle East Aviation Safety Summit to be hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) in Abu Dhabi next week will kick off a Global Safety Roadmap and provide a blueprint for international air safety initiatives around the world.
The Summit, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister of the UAE, will be held at the Al Raha Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi on 21 and 22 January 2008.
Prominent international and regional aviation officials and experts who have confirmed their participation include HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Development for Government Sector and chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of co-sponsors Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC); Dr Taieb Sherif, secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); William Voss, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF); Ambassador Edward Stimpson, chairman of the FSF; James Filippatos, assistant administrator for international aviation of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and Claude Probst, director of regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“The purpose of the summit is to develop a prioritised action plan that integrates existing efforts with crucial safety needs. It brings together all the concerned partners including regulators, airport and aircraft operators, engine manufacturers, safety agencies and international organizations. The Summit is based on the parameters of the Global Aviation Safety Roadmap, a global initiative by ICAO, IATA, ACI, IFALPA CANSO, FSF, Airbus and Boeing,” said HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Development for Government Sector and chairman of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The first day of the conference will introduce delegates to the Global Aviation Safety Roadmap (GASR), a new aviation safety initiative pioneered by the International Safety Strategy Group (ISSG). The GASR supersedes earlier safety initiatives and following its Middle East launch will be rolled out in Africa and South America. In the afternoon there will be reports updating delegates on current initiatives in the region to enhance aviation safety.
The second day will focus on key areas for enhancing aviation safety including the implementation of international standards, consistent use of safety management systems, reporting and analysing errors and incidents, using technology to enhance safety, finding training and assessing qualified personnel and alignment of safety strategies.
HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, chairman and managing director of ADAC who are co-hosting the event said: “The Summit recognises the commitment of the UAE to pioneering aviation safety initiatives in the region and beyond. It brings together all the concerned parties – regulators, the aviation industry and safety agencies – with the mutual goal of launching a new era in aviation safety. We are pleased to co-host this milestone event with the GCAA and the world aviation industry and we look forward to rolling out the global safety plan of action from the UAE capital.”
Jalal Haidar, the UAE representative on the council of the ICAO, added: “It is an honour for the UAE to be chosen as the launch pad for this global safety initiative and reflects the high standards of practice attained here. The Summit will include presentations on the Safety Management Systems employed by the US and European civil aviation authorities and it will be very informative for the attendees to be able to compare and contrast their best practices and safety philosophies.”
