The Middle East needs not only to increase airspace capacity to cope with rapidly growing flight movements but should consider substantial investment in pro-active management of aviation safety, according to a leading aviation risk expert.

'The Arabian Gulf in particular is facing an unprecedented increase in air traffic volumes and needs to invest to ensure the region's unblemished safety standards are retained both when aircraft are on the ground and in the sky,' said Roel Berendsen, vice president of the aviation division of engineering, safety and risk company ESR Technology.

'Airports are also under pressure to adapt to meet the huge predicted growth in the region's aviation industry,' he added.

Huge airport projects and expansions now underway in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia airport industry have been put at over $68 billion, with the Arabian Gulf countries accounting for $43 billion of that growth.

ESR Technology - which is showcasing its international expertise in aviation risk and safety at The Airport Show in Dubai, taking place from 2-4 June 2008 at Airport Expo Dubai - is undergoing major business growth in the Middle East as the region's aviation industry grows.

Berendsen said, “Our expertise in this specific sector includes airspace collision risk modeling; airside capacity studies; airport and air traffic management safety and risk management; aerodrome safeguarding; reliability based inspection; business continuity and emergency and contingency planning.

'Good aviation safety management and risk assessment is imperative anywhere in the world because of the positive impact it has on aviation safety. As well as cutting down on delays, well planned and executed air transport systems can progressively reduce accident risk.

'Leading Middle East airline executives have pointed out that the issue of safe management of the increasingly congested airspace shared by both civilian and military aircraft could harm regional aviation growth. The freeing up of more airspace for civil aviation is clearly an issue that needs co-operation on a regional level,' he added.

'However, investment will be needed to improve traffic management and optimise the use of limited airport space while, at the same time, maintaining traffic safety at airports.

'The sheer complexity of airspace operations in the vicinity of airports means that hazards such as penetrations of the obstacle limitation surfaces near airports, wake turbulence on approach and runway incursions must be given serious study at all times when changes are considered.

'The complexity of current and planned operations requires the process of safety assurance of any change to be pro-active and risk based – simply adhering to international standards of design many no longer be sufficient to guarantee adequate safety.”

Major examples of the growth in the regional airport industry include Dubai's new third terminal which will more than double capacity to around 65 million passengers a year.

A new airport is also under construction on the outskirts of Dubai at Jebel Ali - Dubai World Central Airport.

It will eventually cope with an estimated 120 million passengers. Additional airports have been announced in the UAE with Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah building international terminals and Sharjah increasing the size of its airport to cope with passenger demand.

On final completion, Qatar’s New Doha International Airport will be able to handle 50 million passengers. Saudi Arabia has also embarked on a multi-billion dollar upgrade and expansion of its airport network, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain are also expanding existing airports and building new ones.

Total Middle East international passenger numbers are forecast at around 105 million in 2011, an increase of 30 million over 2006 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association.

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