RIYADH —

The Fourth Middle East Aviation Summit organized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), kicked off Tuesday in Riyadh under the patronage of the Minister of Transport and the Chairman of GACA Dr. Nabil Al-Amoudi.

Dr. Nabil Al-Amoudi delivered a speech in which he conveyed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for the Kingdom’s approval to host the permanent headquarters of the Regional Safety Oversight Organization for the Middle East and North Africa; and for allocating a budget of $1.5 million for this purpose.

He stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is concerned with civil aviation issues in general and air safety in particular. This in addition to its full confidence in the need to apply air safety standards and procedures in the civil aviation industry at a global level.

Dr. Al-Amoudi further said “air transport is one of the most dynamic industries, where it play a major role in many countries economies. It has a direct and indirect impact on the progress of modernization that governments seek for their people. Noting its importance and variables are increasing rapidly, where reliable studies have shown an unprecedented demand for air travel worldwide”.

He pointed out that the Middle East is witnessing the highest and fastest growth rates in the world, adding more responsibilities, and imposing more effort and joint action to go hand in hand with the importance of this industry and the challenges it faces especially in terms of aviation safety and aviation security.

He noted that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 urges the promotion of joint action among countries in the Middle East region as a single block. This is achieved through the relevant international bodies and associations, particularly the ICAO, in order to reach the desired role of the air transport industry in the region and to overcome all obstacles.

For his part, Abdulhakim Al-Tamimi, President of GACA, welcomed the participants and thanked Dr. Nabil Al-Amoudi for sponsoring the summit. He also thanked the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) and the regional office of the ICAO in the Middle East for their effective role and effort in organizing the summit.

Al-Tamimi stressed that the gathering of a large number of experts and decision makers in field of civil aviation in the Middle East region in one location to discuss the global development related to aviation safety, the indicators and objectives of regional safety and the performance, make this gathering one of the most important events organized at a regional level in the air transport industry.

He pointed out the those interested in this industry from around the world are looking forward to the outcome of this Forum and to the success in achieving the objectives of the meeting depends on the extent of the cooperation between the countries in the region. In addition, by keeping up with the latest development and innovations in the industry.

Al-Tamimi moreover said the air transport industry in the Middle Eastern region in witnessing many challenges nowadays, especially when it comes to safety and security.

“We are confident here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the countries and the authorities participating in this gathering will harness all their capabilities in order to meet these challenges and cope with them with high efficiency through joint action”.

Al-Tamimi explained that the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom, which is hosting the summit, affirms that it will continue to support all of ICAO endeavors, programs and initiatives aimed at achieving the best level of safety at a global and a regional level.

The forum, which will continue until today at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, will discuss ways to ensure the highest levels of safety, benefiting both passengers and the civil aviation industry in the Middle East. Furthermore, the commitment of all parties concerned, starting with civil aviation authorities, airliners and manufacturers’ to the recommended standards.

The summit will review the best practices related to air safety, exchanges expertise in the field, as well educate those working in the sector to the relevant developments that has been reached by the Middle East Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-MID) which has been put forward by the International Civil Aviation Organization (GASP).

The main discussion at the Fourth Middle East Aviation Summit include global aviation safety developments and the objectives and priorities of the Middle East Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-MID). In addition, to highlighting the latest achievements of the Middle East Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-MID) as well as the challenges it faces, safety performance indicators, the experience and opinions of countries that have achieved the required level of safety performance, as well as the status of progress of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in safety management. — SG