Al Ain International Airport has been awarded the aerodrome certificate from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said a report.

The recognition came following the successful Operation Volcano aircraft crash simulation exercise including airport safety oversight audit held last month.

Al Ain International Airport is the second airport in the UAE, after Abu Dhabi International Airport, to be awarded full certification.

The certification confirms that Al Ain International Airport is fully compliant with the GCAA aerodrome licensing regulations as well as meeting the requirements of the internationally recognised Annex 14 standards and recommended practices outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao).

These requirements cover all aspects of the airport operation, including infrastructure and systems, as well as procedural processes related to the safety and secure operation of the airport.

Implemented last month, Operation Volcano put the airport’s emergency preparedness to the test as a fictitious emergency situation was staged at Al Ain International Airport, observed by an aerodrome inspector and emergency management specialist from the GCAA.

The simulation was organised by Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation/General Civil Aviation Authority standard requirements of airport emergency planning and involved a number of emergency services and medical agencies.

“Al Ain International Airport has demonstrated its full emergency preparedness and this Aerodrome certificate acknowledges our safety and security compliance and emergency competencies,” said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Adac chairman.

“Al Ain is an international airport and we are dedicated to providing a facility that meets the highest international standards.”

Nasser Juma, vice president of safety and security at Adac, added: “This certification is evidence of ADAC’s commitment to superior safety management systems and processes which benefit both our airline partners and passengers using the airport.” – TradeArabia News Service