The Gulf Flight Safety Council (GFSC), a not-for-profit group of GCC aviation organisations focusing on improved safety standards, proposed the setting of regional safety guidelines, at its first 2016 meeting held in Bahrain.

Through the safety guidelines, GFSC is looking to reduce flight risks and lost time accidents, as well as bring the region closer to international standards.

“Like the International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets international safety guidelines, the GFSC allows us an opportunity to discuss safety issues specific to this region. The GFSC has agreed this year to collaborate on the writing of a shared safety document, in which we would like the involvement of all the operators in the region. It will have no affiliation to any particular organisation, but can be used by all to improve the overall safety levels in the region. It will ensure that all the players will be speaking a common language, improving safety cooperation among them,” said Captain Mohammed Malatani, chairman of the GFSC.

“The GFSC is deeply committed to ensuring that airlines in the GCC region comply with the highest safety standards, and these meetings are an opportunity for industry professionals to share safety-related issues with one another and to learn from each others’ experiences,” he added.

The two-day event, sponsored by Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the Gulf Marcom Group, Eventscom, and Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), was held at the GAA.

The event was attended by representatives of several regional airlines, including Gulf Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudi Airlines, Oman Air, and Flydubai. Bahrain participants also included Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA), and the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Formed by a small group of individuals in Dubai in 2000, the GFSC has grown into an important organisation, with members from all over the region and the world, including manufacturers, regulators, air traffic service providers, business jet and VVIP operators, airlines and cargo operators. It meets twice a year, in April and October, to discuss improved safety procedures, and hosts an annual Safety Summit every December. - TradeArabia News Service