The director general of UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has been unanimously elected vice chairman of the ongoing general assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The 37th session of the general assembly of ICAO started on September 28 in Montreal, and will continue until October 8.

“It is a fact that the growth of the UAE’s aviation industry over recent years has been without precedent,” said Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Minister of Economy, director general, GCAA, and vice chairman of the current session of ICAO general assembly.

“UAE continues to generate annual passenger growth figures in the 20 per cent range and an annual increase in air traffic movements of 10 per cent—among the highest in the world in both categories and contrasting dramatically with the market contractions being experienced in many other global regions,” he added.

“This rapid development has brought with it crucial challenges at a scale beyond the capacity of any country to resolve alone,” Al Suwaidi continued.

“The UAE has therefore unhesitatingly taken recourse to ICAO as the global aviation regulating authority. Without the benefit of ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices, and the expert assistance of its staff, the extraordinarily rapid growth of the UAE’s aviation sector could never have been achieved.”

Al Suwaidi pointed out that the UAE has become increasingly aware that there can be no variation or compromise in standards of safety, security and treatment of the environment amongst the 190 ICAO member states.

“Just as the UAE has benefited greatly from the authority and expertise of ICAO, it is now committed to the closest cooperation with this vital organisation,” Al Suwaidi said.

“The UAE seeks, by its active participation in ICAO activities and through substantial contributions to the organization’s work programmes, to share the lessons it has learned and the expertise it has gained,” he concluded.

The UAE’s delegation to the ICAO general assembly also participated in the meetings of various technical committees, dealing with safety and security in civil aviation, as well as other specialised committees, such as the economic and legal committees. – TradeArabia News Service