UAE air traffic movements jump 10.3%

Air traffic movements in the UAE grew at 10.3 per cent in January 2011 compared to the same month last year, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said on Monday.

The monthly report indicated that total air traffic movements in January 2011 were 57,227 with an average of 1,846 air traffic movements per day.

GCAA's report showed the number of air traffic movements in each UAE airport. Dubai ranked first with 26,134 air traffic movements. Over flights stood next at 12,329 air traffic movements. Abu Dhabi ranked third with 8,390 air traffic movements.

According to the report, air traffic movements in Sharjah International Airport ranked fourth with 5,315 movements. Local flights between UAE airports were in the fifth position with 4,003 movements. Fujairah International Airport witnessed 396 movements, while Ras Al Khaimah International Airport had 325 air traffic movements and Al Ain Airport had 182 air traffic movements. Al Maktoum International Airport witnessed 153 shipping movements.

The report indicated that as far as air safety is concerned, GCAA completed 17 licensing transactions for aircraft maintenance companies, 14 aircraft registration certificate transactions and 63 airworthiness certificate transactions. Further, GCAA conducted 35 inspections and audits, renewed 5 air operator certificates, and issued 5 simulator certificates. In terms of SAFA system 2 foreign aircraft and one air operator were suspended, and for (ROSI) system 65 aviation incidents were reported.

As for security and infrastructure operations, GCAA conducted 19 inspections and audits, prepared 175 airport control tower reports, provided one emergency training course, and issued 6 infrastructure safety and security violation tickets.

As for crew licensing, GCAA issued 553 new crew licenses, renewed 398 licenses, issued 37 temporary permits, completed 213 type additions to licenses, issued 43 replacement licenses, and conducted 163 crew examinations, thereby bringing the number of crew licensing transactions in January 2011 to 1504.

As for aircraft maintenance engineers licensing, GCAA issued 85 new licenses, renewed 55 licenses, completed 554 type additions to licenses, issued 3 replacement licenses and 10 temporary permits, and conducted 261 aircraft maintenance engineer examinations, thereby bringing the total number of aircraft maintenance engineers licensing transactions last month to 971.

Regarding aeromedical activities, the report indicated that GCAA issued and renewed 1127 medical certificates in various qualified categories, appointed 3 medical committees, approved 8 decisions by medical committees, and carried out 59 transactions to return crew licenses. As such, Aeromedical related transactions in January 2011 stood at 1197.

Further, concerning air traffic controller transactions, the report showed that GCAA issued 7 new licenses, renewed 14 licenses, and completed 5 type additions to licenses. As for urgent service transactions, there were 491 crew transactions, 47 aeromedical transactions, 122 aircraft maintenance engineer transactions, and 32 aircraft crew card transactions. As such, urgent service transactions stood at 692.

In addition, the UAE signed the final air transport agreement with Mauritania, and memoranda of understanding with France, and held consultations with Ethiopia.

Commenting on January report, Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA, stated that: "GCAA started 2011 by stressing its ability to maintain its growth in terms of air navigations, safety, security, licensing '&' aeromedicine and other operations and transactions in line with the continued growth and development of this industry in the UAE."

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