UAE June air traffic posts 11.3% growth

According to the monthly report issued by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), air traffic movements in the country in June also maintained the high average achieved in the first five months of 2010.

Dubai continued to occupy the top position with 23,824 air traffic movements. Over flights came next at 11292 movements and Abu Dhabi ranked third with 7,815 movements, according to the report released on Monday.

The report said that air traffic movements at Sharjah International Airport ranked fourth with 5,352 movements. Local flights between the UAE airports were in the fifth position with 3098 movements.

Fujairah International Airport witnessed 334 movements, while Al Ain Airport and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 218 and 102 air traffic movements respectively. The recently-opened Al Maktoum International Airport saw four movements. In June, GCAA issued 400 new crew licences and renewed 205 licences. It also issued 73 temporary permits and 27 letters certifying aircraft licence details, 64 replacement licences and conducted 112 crew examinations. The total number of crew licensing transactions by GCAA in the 
month was 1000.

GCAA issued 34 new licences and renewed 24 for air traffic controllers in June. It also issued 14 air traffic control training permits and conducted 57 type additions to licences, thereby bringing the total number of transactions related to air traffic controllers to 129.

The report said GCAA completed 17 transactions related to certificates for aircraft maintenance companies, eight transactions of aircraft registration certificates and 59 transactions of airworthiness certificates. It also conducted 44 inspections and audits at the local and non-local levels, issued two air operator certificates, completed nine aircraft modification transactions and issued 19 simulator certificates and 30 examination permits.

GCAA conducted 21 inspections and audits and renewed four licences for companies operating in dangerous goods, the report said.

ramavarman@khaleejtimes.com