RIYADH — Fifty leading aviation executives from domestic airlines, airports and various sectors at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) recently attended a week-long workshop entitled "The national strategy for media communication after aviation accidents". The workshop, organized by the Aviation Investigation Bureau, was aimed at training and aviation executives to effectively deal with the media after aviation accidents. Basem Alsallom, assistant to GACA president for corporate communications and marketing, stressed the importance of establishing and organizing workshops specializing in media communication to contribute in enhancing communication training aspects and early preparation for any future incidents. Abdulellah Felimban, director general of AIB office, explained that the workshop aims to develop and activate a national strategy post any aviation accident and to achieve the highest international standards in the aviation system in the Kingdom. The workshop, he said, also enabled the participants in dealing with the media in a professional manner and to be able to provide them with accurate information derived from the source. "The workshop included the creation of a practical training to deal with the print media and TV by recording a simulated TV and press interviews with the participants to enable them to deal in a professional and effective manners. The exercise is conducted by creating a make-believe scenarios of aviation accidents, and then question are asked to address these pseudo situations", he said noting that the workshop was the second of its kind. The AIB, he said, will hold a number of related courses in the near future. The workshop was conducted by Mrs. Linda Tavlin, an expert in aviation accident communication, where several make-believe scenarios were presented, she then went on to explain the best ways in dealing with the media, whether the new digital media, or the traditional one. She emphasized the importance of giving the facts and not delaying the issuance of press releases to avoid rumors from being circulated. She pointed out that AIB office is the main entity to go to when accidents happen. Mrs. Tavlin went on to say that the benefits of these workshop are to familiarize the people working in the aviation industry on investigation mechanism and their role in the process. She pointed out that aviation personnel's mission is to focus on dealing with the aviation crisis and emphasized that the aviation industry in the Kingdom was safe. She went on to say that aviation industry staff should not have any fears when dealing with the media. Instead, they have to be proactive and deal with it with ease, where aviation is a whole and complete process that have checks and balances from international organizations to ensures the safety of the flying public. It is worth mentioning that the GACA has put a lot of emphasis on the subject of passenger security and safety, and is active in achieving a safe environment according to precise safety standards.
