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UAE’s Air Traffic Movements up 12.8 pct in Sept

DUBAI—The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that air traffic movements in UAE grew at unprecedented rate of 12.8 per cent in September 2010 compared to the same month last year.

The GCAA monthly report indicated that total air traffic movements in September 2010 were 52,693, with an average of 1756 air traffic movements per day.

GCAA’s monthly report for September 2010 showed the number of air traffic movements in each UAE airport. Dubai ranked first with 24068 air traffic movements. Over flights stood next at 11674 air traffic movements. Abu Dhabi ranked third with 7753 air traffic movements. According to the report, air traffic movements in Sharjah International Airport ranked fourth with 5350 movements. Local flights between UAE airports were in the fifth position with 3194 movements. Fujairah International Airport witnessed 339 movements, while Al Ain Airport and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 224 and 84 air traffic movements respectively. The recently opened Al Maktoum International Airport witnessed 7 shipping movements.

The report indicated that as far as air safety is concerned, GCAA completed 23 licensing transactions for aircraft maintenance companies, 7 aircraft registration certificate transactions and 50 airworthiness certificate transactions. Further, GCAA conducted 10 inspections and audits, issued 1 air operator certificate, completed 1 aircraft modification transaction and issued 24 simulator certificates and 13 examination permits. In terms of SAFA system, 20 inspections were carried out. Finally, 46 aviation incidents were reported.

For security and infrastructure operations, GCAA conducted 18 inspections and audits and issued 5 licenses for companies operating in dangerous goods shipping. GCAA prepared 202 airport control tower reports, held 30 internal and external meetings in relation to security and infrastructure operations with several institutions and companies operating in the field of civil aviation in the UAE, provided 1 emergency training course, and issued 4 infrastructure safety violation tickets.

As for crew licensing, GCAA issued 329 new crew licenses, renewed 299 licenses, issued 70 temporary permits and 27 letters certifying aircraft license details, completed 46 type additions to licenses, issued 33 replacement licenses, and conducted 128 crew examinations, thereby bringing the number of crew licensing transactions in September 2010 to 932.

For aircraft maintenance engineers licensing, GCAA issued 33 new licenses, renewed 38 licenses, completed 227 type additions to licenses, issued 4 replacement licenses and 13 temporary permits, and conducted 167 aircraft maintenance engineer examinations, thereby bringing the number of aircraft maintenance engineers licensing transactions last month to 485.

Regarding aeromedical activities, the report indicated that GCAA issued and renewed 414 medical certificates in various qualified categories, appointed 3 medical committees to hold medical councils, approved 2 decisions by medical committees, and carried out 47 transactions to return crew licenses. As such, aeromedical-related transactions in September 2010 stood at 466.

Further, concerning air traffic controller transactions, the report showed that GCAA issued 3 new licenses, renewed 8 licenses, and completed 14 type additions to licenses. As for urgent service transactions, there were 577 crew transactions, 25 aero medical transactions, 84 aircraft maintenance engineer transactions, and 4 aircraft crew card transactions. As such, urgent service transactions stood at 690.

Regarding training courses, there were 3 external courses attended by 8 trainees and 5 in-house courses attended by 68 trainees.

Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA, commented: “The growth of air traffic movement reached its highest, compared to same month last year. This is a clear indication of the continued growth of the civil aviation sector in the UAE and the increasing demand from services offered.”