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Middle East Declaration Inked to Transform Air Traffic Management

Among others, the declaration seeks to establish a ‘Single Sky’ for both the military and the civilian aircrafts flying between the Middle East and countries in other continents, achieve less emissions and direct routing that will reduce flight delays and promote excellent air services.

The declaration, which was endorsed by all organisations attending the second Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Middle East High Level meeting Monday in Dubai, reinforces the will of all the aviation sectors in the region to deliver improved air navigation services.

CANSO, the Global Voice of ATM, announced the declaration during a Press conference on Tuesday at The Address Hotel, during which, Abdullah M.N. Al-Rehaimi, president of GACA Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Middle CANSO CEO Committee, told the media that most air service providers are working as part of the government and may not be able to possibly respond to a high level of performance. “This declaration encourages Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to go into corporatizing the services and to connect them to a state-run entity on commercial basis. I am saying that ANS will go for commercial operation with strict policies and efficient services.”

He said that a strategy for unified navigation is the vision for Middle East that will resolve the civil-military space issue, which most countries have been tackling. “This will be dealt with on the basis of what the European aviation industry has learnt and to draw this experience to Middle East.”

Ashley Smout, CEO of Airways New Zealand and CANSO Chairman, said that the Declaration endorses the CANSO Middle East REDSEA vision to “Realise, Enhance and Develop Seamless Efficient Airspace” and to encourage the successful transformation of ATM in the region.

He explained that the transformation is expected to take place through introduction of the best practice borrowed from the European experience in collaboration with CANSO Middle East and other aviation stakeholders to reduce delays, improve air services, high standards of safety and better understanding of the aircraft operations, improved efficiency and environment-friendly service.

Smout said that Europe has well developed regional activity to help ANSPs, and the collaborative response here in the Middle East towards this end is a huge challenge to the aviation business sectors, states and international organisations.

He also said that the priority in the first year of this three-year period is the setting up of the service management system, which is being supported by CANSO-produced flyers, guides, and booklets to fast track the identifying of bottlenecks in achieving a “Single Sky” programme and to speed up the process of maximising the airspace capacity especially in certain parts of the world, which can be considered ‘Hot Spots’ or destinations with too much air traffic.

“An example of the positive result of this technology in Asia has been a savings of US$1.4 million in a delay-free service and some 30 to 40 per cent reduction in the emissions from airlines. This has been achieved through strengthened and optimised routes,” he added.

“CANSO Middle East Committee has addressed these issues and will continue to do so. We expect that in three years’ time, we expect significant changes in the aviation in Middle East,” Graham Lake, CANSO Director General said. “CANSO is the global voice of ATM, and today the voice has spoken in the Middle East. Together with the vital support of our partners and customers in the region, we look forward to proactively working together to improve the capacity, performance, safety and efficiency of the Middle East ATN.”

lily@khaleejtimes.com