Safety top priority for air travel

DUBAI: Industry-leading aviation experts speaking at the 3rd World Aviation Safety Summit this year will discuss the measures regional players are taking to minimize accidents due to ground damage, the primary cause of aviation accidents in the Middle East.

The summit’s advisory board of the top UAE and international aviation safety leaders has stressed that the importance of preventing ground damage is increasingly being recognised as a key issue in the regional aviation industry.

Specialist strategy sessions at the summit will explore how the aviation sector can strengthen runway safety by focusing on the risks of excursions and how these risks can be overcome to ensure safe and successful flights. Experts will also explore best practices and solutions to reduce aircraft excursions and the role air traffic controllers can play in runways and taxiways safety, especially in cases of emergency landing.

Aircraft runway accidents continue to be a common global industry challenge, attributed to the lack of compliance with international ground handling regulations. According to IATA, this is becoming an escalating issue in the region where it is witnessing rapid growth with rising flight activity.

“Safety remains the top priority for air travel in the Middle East,” said Capt. Joachim Wirths, Head of Operations at Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. “We have extensive systems in place to maintain our safety record and are extending greater coordination across different areas including innovation and training between the parties involved. Performance-based oversight and risk-based decision making are the proper tools to deal with the fast growing regional aviation industry.”

“Airlines and airports are continuing to invest heavily in training and technology; however, innovation should not be limited to airlines. Ground handlers, air traffic controllers and other service providers should all coordinate to help improve our industry safety record,” added Henry Donohoe, Senior Vice President Group Safety at Emirates.

In addition to aircraft ground damage, other safety issues such as aircraft tracking, the risk of carrying hazardous items, effective collaboration and risk of remotely piloted aircraft systems will be discussed at the event.

Held under the Patronage of  Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Emirates Group, the Summit will be hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and organised by the Streamline Marketing Group.

Running from 16-17 March 2015 in Dubai, the two-day summit will bring together local and international stakeholders from regulatory authorities, airline operators, airport operators, aircraft manufactures, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers to discuss key strategies and challenges in improving safety culture. International speakers at panel discussions, strategy sessions and group discussions will explore a range of topics related to safety in air travel. Experts will also share regional case studies on how the challenges of integrating and implementing new and existing safety procedures can be overcome.

The event is expected to attract more than 300 local and international stakeholders from regulatory authorities, airline operators, airport operators, aircraft manufactures, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers under one roof to discuss key strategies and challenges in improving safety culture.