CANSO partnership key to developing a single regional airspace initiative

CANSO is supporting the Summit as a strategic partner in order to discuss with industry leaders how to tackle the region’s airspace congestion and to highlight the importance of partnership in achieving industry objectives. 

Officially endorsed and co-organised by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the theme of this Summit is how the aviation industry is a key economic driver not just for the UAE, but for the entire Middle East. As such, air traffic management (ATM) capacity needs to be increased to ensure continued economic growth. The GCAA will also host the ICAO Middle East ATM Enhancement Program (MAEP) Steering Committee meeting back to back with FATSS. 

Jeff Poole, director general of CANSO, commented: “We are delighted that the CANSO Executive Committee will hold its first meeting of 2015 in Dubai alongside the FATSS and MAEP meetings.”

“This reflects the importance of efficient air traffic management (ATM) in the Middle East region and the strong desire of CANSO and its members to support improved performance in ATM through partnership on a single, agreed regional airspace initiative,” Poole added. 

Organising the two events in parallel provides a unique opportunity for the Executive Committee members and the major stakeholders in the Middle East to discuss the critical issues on regional harmonisation of ATM in the region. 

Transforming air traffic management performance in the Middle East is a major priority for CANSO and its members. The Future Air Transportations Systems Summit will allow industry leaders to address the key issues of improving efficiency and working towards airspace harmonisation in the region. 

IATA recently announced that passenger capacity is expected to expand by 15.6% in 2015 (up from 11.4% in 2014) in the Middle East, which will impose even greater pressure on the region’s airspace at the time carriers continue to expand their fleet sizes in response to the increased demand. 

Ahmed Al Jallaf, assistant director general for Air Navigation Services in the GCAA and Chairman of the ICAO Middle East Airspace Enhancement Programme, commented: “Air traffic management capacity in the region could begin to constrain continued economic growth if airports and airspace congestions are not resolved. The industry has witnessed phenomenal growth and we need to respond collaboratively in the region to improve air traffic safety, security and efficiency and therefore strong economic potential opportunities.” 

He added: “Cooperation between all the stakeholders is necessary to harmonise airspace, systems and procedures in achieving commonalities locally and regionally.”