The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Air Navigation and Aerodrome Department (ANA) held the 5th Annual ANA Safety Workshop from 29 to 30 May 2012, at the Al Marooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai.  The event which was titled ‘Integrated Aviation Safety Management’ was supported by both national civil and military organisations, and was seen by many delegates as another successful major event in the UAE safety promotion calendar.  A major sponsor of the event was SERCO Middle East.

Over 100 participants from UAE air traffic control units, airports, airlines, military, government agencies and the wider industry attended the two day workshop which featured speakers from the GCAA, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Dubai Airports, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Fujairah International Airport, Sharjah Department Civil Aviation, SERCO Middle East and Emirates Airlines.  The event was first held in 2008 when it involved only a small gathering of air traffic control units and has since continued to increase every year in both scope and relevance to encompass the many disciplines of the aviation safety industry within the UAE.

The workshop was focused on Integrated Aviation Safety Management Systems and consisted of a comprehensive schedule of presentations and workshop exercises aimed at providing a strengthened understanding of safety management principles and culture, highlighting the importance of leading industry to mature from the isolated system towards the more effective integrated processes. Delegates took advantage of the opportunity to network and brainstorm during the workshop to determine ways to foster continuous improvements to safety within the industry.

The GCAA is committed to empowering the UAE Aviation industry to lead the way in continually making improvements to safety to meet the ever growing demands from the expanding airline operators within the UAE and the Middle East region. Through numerous safety promotion activities, such as this valuable workshop and additionally numerous seminars, conferences and formal technical committee meetings the GCAA ANA Department continually promotes a sound healthy safety culture in all areas of industry, by obtaining aviation stakeholders’ buy-in to the necessity to have effective Safety management Systems in place to enhance safety.  Ismaeil Al Balooshi the GCAA Executive Director of Aviation Safety Affairs Sector stated “We will continue to expand this important annual event to include more of the industry not only from the UAE, but also from regional and global aviation organisations. Next year our 6th Annual Event will be transformed into an International Safety Seminar, together with vital participation workshops, which will reinforce our Authority’s Mission to continue to be a world leader in the aviation industry.”