Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) demanded UAE's aviation regulator adopt improved screening procedures and better communication to thwart potential security threats and attain high safety standards.
Dr Nidal Al Tunaiji, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, said the aviation sector is vital for security and stability of the UAE. "As many as 50 million passengers are served by nine airports, a big passenger traffic number which prompts improved screening procedures and better communication to thwart any potential threat and achieve international safety standards," she said.
She added aviation safety and security concerns must be addressed by the UAE's regulator in this regard and called for an end to interference by local and federal authorities.
"The General Civil Aviation Authority [GCAA] must be the sole regulator and controller of aviation, in accordance with the UAE Constitution," she said.
The UAE is the Middle East's largest international transit hub, according to GCAA.
Members of the House also demanded maintaining the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, its infrastructure and flight inspection methods, and stopping foreign operators and carriers who failed to comply with rules from entering UAE airspace.
Khalifa Bin Howaiden, a member from Sharjah, said certain airports in the country have poor infrastructure and lack equipment and facilities.
Sultan Bin Hussain, a member from Umm Al Quwain, said the aviation regulator must adopt firm rules to prevent violations and air incidents.
Members of the House also demanded measures to lower aircraft noise and emission levels. They environmental factors related to aviation, including noise and emission concerns, began with the increased use of jet aircraft, urbanisation — with residential areas inching closer to airports and a general increase in the number of flights.
Critical report
A report by an ad hoc committee suggested powers of the local aviation authorities conflict with those of the GCAA, particularly in aviation safety, security and airworthiness of aircraft.
The report said the UAE's aviation regulator was unable to address the challenges in view of growing pollution, capacity of airspace, budget deficit and low numbers of Emiratis in the aviation sector, especially in air navigation.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and the GCAA Chairman, said strategies of the GCAA are meant to adopt the best international practices in aviation safety and security. "The GCAA has improved its performance and adopted many of the FNC's recommendations. There is extraordinary growth in the aviation sector and that is reflected through the new terminals being built and aircraft purchased. The UAE's fleet will grow from 86 in 2006 to 233 in 2010 and 728 in 2020," Al Mansouri said.
He added it is therefore most important that security features be incorporated into the design of new terminals and extensions to existing facilities to ensure present and future threats are adequately dealth with.
Al Mansouri spoke of challenges, including local legislations which conflict with international law. Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA, said all airports in the country are licensed and inspected in keeping with international standards.
The focus on safety comes as the accident rate for Middle East airlines was almost five times higher than the rate for the rest of the world last year because of accidents, including crashes of a cargo flight from Sharjah and a Yemen Airways passenger flight off the African coast.
Khalifa concludes session
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a federal decree calling for concluding the 14th legislative chapter of the Federal National Council (FNC).
The President issued federal decree No. 51 of 2010 calling for the house to conclude its fourth session of the 14th Legislative Chapter as of yesterday. The FNC speaker should implement the order and is to be published in the official gazette.
— WAM
