The Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) conference, organized by the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), Tuesday discussed the impact of the development of air traffic management (ATM) in the Middle East. The conference, opened by Abdullah Mohammed Noor Rehaimy, GACA Chairman, is being organized in cooperation with NANSA, Egypt National Air Navigation Services, and the British company, Serco Services. Over 100 experts from international civil aviation authorities and companies are taking part in the conference. In his opening speech, Rehaimy said the conference aims to discuss ways to accommodate a growing number of flights at what will soon be some of the world's busiest airports. “We seek to increase the liberalization of airlines and continued investment in the aviation sector and find ways for a safer and more efficient air traffic management throughout the Middle East,” he said. Alexander ter Kuile, Secretary General of CANSO, said their mission was to change the way business is done under the theme (Business Transformation) in CANSO in order to assist and provide a safe and seamless airspace, with particular emphasis on customer-driven performance, cost efficiency, and optimized air traffic management. The conference discussed different aspects such as safety, airspace planning, new operational and technical initiatives, cooperation between service providers, and best practices to enhance ATM provision in the region. The two-day conference will include several workshops to discuss the safety culture, civil military ties, interoperability, airspace efficiency, and overcoming political and technical barriers. CANSO is the global voice of the companies that provide air traffic control and represents the interest of air navigation service providers worldwide. CANSO members are responsible for supporting over 80 percent of world air traffic, control around 70 percent of world airspace and through its work groups, members share information and develop new policies with the ultimate aim of improving navigation service on the ground and in the air.
