Aviation safety is the focus of a two day international seminar that began today in the Cypriot capital and will conclude tomorrow, with the participation of 140 delegates from 14 countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, as well as representatives of 12 European and regional organizations.
The seminar is jointly organized by the Ministry of Communications and Works of the
Other participants represent Civil Aviation Authorities, Air Navigation Service Providers, Airport Authorities, Airline Companies, Controllers and Pilots Associations of the Middle-East, North African and Gulf Regions.
Eurocontrol Deputy Director of ATM Strategies, Lex Hendriks, addressed two issues that have to be resolved in order to increase the levels of air safety.
He said one is to correct the situation created by the existence of the illegal airport in the Turkish occupied parts of the Republic of Cyprus, and the other is the proliferation of English as the international language of communication in the field of air transport.
Addressing the seminar, Minister of Communications and Works Haris Thrasou said that within the aviation community, the maintenance of the highest possible standards in safety is an absolute priority.
The government of Cyprus, he said, attributes to Aviation Safety its primary attention and allocates all possible effort to the maintaining the highest possible safety standards.
“Cyprus, as a member of the EU and EUROCONTROL, in full appreciation of its strategic geographical position at the cross roads of three continents and the role it is called upon to play as the bridge between Europe and the Middle-East Region, is offering every possible support to regional cooperation”, he noted.
The Minister said that in order to meet the increasing demand for capacity, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, whilst keeping the high levels of safety required, Air Traffic Management has to undergo drastic changes.
An important element in maintaining high safety standards in aviation transport is the management of air traffic and airport safety as well as the management of the safety of the airline industry, Thrasou said.
He added that accident and incident investigation can form the rigid framework for diminishing, to the maximum possible extent, the occurrences of safety related incidents.
“A major challenge ahead for the aviation community is managing the air traffic growth, while at the same time maintaining high levels of safety”, Thrasou said.
He called upon all aviation authorities worldwide to consider the adaptations they have to undergo in order to maintain or even increase safety levels.
“The challenges we all face are very demanding and difficult to deal with but by joining our resources and working together, we will be able to overcome the constraints laid before us”, the Minister said.
Thrasou announced that before the end of the year, he will submitt to the Council of Ministers a proposal, aiming to give the Cyprus Civil Aviation Department more independence.
In his address, Regional Director of the ICAO Middle East Office, Mohamed Khonji, said that there are enough rules on air safety, but the main issue is that these rules must be implemented as well.
“We have to correct all deficiencies in air safety”, he noted.
Filippo Tomasello, on behalf of the air transport directorate of the European Commission, said that
Speaking on behalf of EMAC, Director General of Civil Aviation of Lebanon, Hamdi Chaouk, said that in the world of globalization, it becomes imperative that all efforts for the improvement of air safety are harmonized.
All speakers congratulated the
