UAE gets re-elected to top aviation panel

Dubai: The UAE made a new international achievement on Tuesday, when it was re-elected to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The UAE won the majority vote of 90 per cent, at the 37th session of the ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, Canada from September 28 to October 6.

The council consists of 36 out of the 190 members of the ICAO. This is the second time the UAE has been elected to the council. The first time was in the previous session held in 2007.

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and head of the UAE delegation commented: "This is a big achievement for the UAE and its civil aviation sector. It will enhance the UAE image in this sector and encourage it to make more initiatives and implement the aviation security, safety and environment plans worldwide.

"The UAE was able to make this achievement and win the trust of countries around the world because of the leading and active role it plays in civil aviation internationally.

"The UAE is the first in the region in terms of the size of the civil aviation sector. It has advanced infrastructure, with eight modern airports spread over all emirates.

In addition, it has five world class national airlines currently having 208 aircraft, and another 350 aircraft have been ordered and will be delivered within the coming years," he said.

The re-election of the UAE to the ICAO council is the result of relentless efforts which started over a year ago.