Introduction:
The 11th meeting of the Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG/11) and the 21st meeting of the Planification & Implementation Regional Group (MIDANPIRG/21) took place from 4th to 8th March 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. These meetings provided a platform for aviation experts, regulators, and industry professionals to collaborate, share best practices, and address key challenges in ensuring aviation safety in the Middle East region. With safety as the top priority, the discussions focused on enhancing safety measures, addressing emerging risks, and promoting harmonization among airspaces of member states. The both meetings RASG/11 & MIDANPIRG/21 have been conducted simultaneously, in plenary sessions and dedicated meetings.
Plenary session
During the plenary session, an overview has been provided on several subjects as the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) review of the MIDANPIRG/20 and RASG-MID/10 Report during the fifth meeting of its 224th Session, the Global Aviation Safety and Air Navigation developments, the Outcomes of CAPSCA/11 Meeting, MIDANPIRG Enhancement Program (MEP), the Regional Projects (MENA-RSOO & MENA ARCM), the Air Navigation Subjects of interest to RASG-MID including RVSM operations and Monitoring and the GNSS Interference.
RASG/11
RASG/11 commenced with an overview of the progress made in implementing the Regional Aviation Safety Plan (RASP) and an update on the ongoing work for the development of the GASP 26-28. Participants acknowledged the efforts made by member states to enhance safety standards and promote a culture of continuous improvement. Key initiatives discussed were developed to face the operational safety risks, organizational issues and emerging risks such as UAS and manned VTOL-capable aircraft, Artificial intelligence (AI) in Aviation and digitalization in the aviation field. It included also, the development of a risk-based approach to safety oversight, implementation of safety management systems, and the use of data-driven strategies for safety enhancement.
MIDANPIRG/21
Recognizing the evolving challenges faced by the aviation industry, MIDANPIRG/21 focused on identifying MID Region Air Navigation Priorities and Targets, the harmonization of the National Air Navigation Plans across the region, using the ASBU mechanism, as well as supporting the training and Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA), increasing the level of PBN implementation, the sustainability of the flight procedure program, the dissemination of the A-CDM across the airports in the region and facing the GNSS disruption particularly in the MID region.
Conclusion:
The 11th meeting of RASG and the 21th meeting of MIDANPIRG provided a valuable platform for the aviation community in the Middle East region to come together and address critical safety issues. The discussions underscored the commitment of member states to continuous improvement, collaboration, and harmonization. By sharing best practices, identifying emerging risks, and promoting a regional approach to safety, these meetings have laid a strong foundation for enhancing aviation safety in the Middle East. The outcomes of RASG/11 and MIDANPIRG/21 will contribute significantly to the region's efforts in aligning with global aviation standards and ensuring the well-being of passengers and the sustainable growth of the aviation industry.