ANTONOV AN-12 TEMPORARILY BANNED FROM UAE AIRSPACE

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- The Antonov An-12 aircraft has been temporarily
banned from the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) airspace due to safety concerns.

The move by the country's General Civil Aviation Authority was enforced on
Jan 8.

"This action is the result of the numerous incidents that involved this type
of aircraft, and considered necessary to ensure the safety of the travelling
public until the GCAA completes its investigatiions," said its director-general,
Said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi.

According to him, national and international civil aviation regulations and
standards mandated the GCAA to take necessary actions to ensure the safety of
UAE's airspace and international civil aviation. "Our action is in line with
these mandates," he said.

Al Suwaidi said the GCAA would continue to evaluate its decision and any
further future action based on the latest technical and aviation safety analysis
and data from regional and international aviation authorities and organisations.

The Antonov An-12 is a four-engined turboprop transport aircraft similar to
the United States-built C-130 Hercules.

-- BERNAMA