UAE/USA Discuss Aviation Matters

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE minister of economy and chairman of the Board of the General Civil Aviation Authority, recently discussed aviation matters with US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. She was in the UAE with Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell for a two day official visit. The visit included a tour of the new Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport. “Our air carriers, passengers and economies are enjoying the benefits of open skies through direct and scheduled air services to several destinations in the UAE and USA. To cement the current achievements, additional flights will be inaugurated and more destinations will be served by the US and UAE air carriers by the end of 2008,” said Al Mansouri. The two sides also discussed the UAE's role to address the emerging global shortage of skilled aviation professionals and its role in promoting global aviation safety. The UAE had convened a summit in January in which a regional plan of action for aviation safety was launched. The aviation safety plan was developed and initiated in cooperation with: the Flight Safety Foundation, aviation leaders from around the world, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ICAO, IATA, Airbus and Boeing.