GCAA hosts air traffic operations workshop for pilots and controllers

Representatives from Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and Global Aerospace Logistics (ADAC) attended the workshop.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of GCAA, stressed the importance of continuous cooperation with the organisation’s stakeholders on all levels to ensure the highest standards of air navigations services provided in the UAE.

The workshop began with a welcoming address by Ahmed Al Jallaf, executive director of the air navigation services sector. He invited participants to engage actively in the discussions to reach common recommendations and conclusions by the end of day. “Technical cooperation and multilateral discussions between Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Center and aviation stakeholders are essential to further advance air navigations services in UAE,” stated Al Jallaf. “The UAE national airspace advisory committee, which is the first of its kind in the region, is a crystallisation of our cooperative efforts,” he added.

Attendees were introduced to the latest progress in the technical and operational fields, and discussed the upcoming workshop, which will be held next month to focus on air traffic operations in the northern part of UAE’s national airspace with participation of northern airports and carriers representatives.

The agenda also included presentations on Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Center’s operations and systems, as well as latest technical programmes, such as the arrival manager system (AMAN) and a general forecast of expected restructuring of UAE airspace.

Representative from both ADAC and Etihad Airways briefed the audience on their recent projects of expansions in terms of surface and air navigation systems.

Final conclusions included recommendations to improve aircraft data systems to be harmonised with the current airspace structure, among other recommended procedures, to accommodate the increase in air traffic movements. Participants agreed unanimously on the importance of holding similar workshops on a regular basis.

GCAA had already listed enhancement in air navigation services with stakeholders as a strategic objective for its triennial plan, and is currently working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to execute technical programmes among state members as studies indicate the correlation between technical operation management and the quality of activities provided by air navigation services providers.