Al Mansouri discusses relations with US Secretary of Transport

Abu Dhabi, June 9 (WAM) - His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board of the General Civil Aviation Authority, discussed with the US Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, the aviations relations between the UAE and United States. Peters arrived to the UAE with a senior delegation including the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for a two-day official visit. The agenda of the visit included meetings with the leaders of the aviation community in the UAE, and a tour to the new Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport. Peters and her team expressed their admiration of the unprecedented achievements "Aviation relations between the USA and the UAE can be characterized as constructive and efficient especially as our two countries are leveraging the open skies policies. 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. This presents numerous opportunities for air travel to businesses, tourists and expatriates. 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. Several key topics were discussed during the meeting including development and training programmes of a new generation of UAE nationals who are expected to lead the UAE aviation sector in the near future. This will be implemented through structured partnerships and cooperative programs with industry stakeholders in both countries, including institutions of higher education and through on job training placements. The two sides also discussed the UAE's leading role to address the emerging global shortage of skilled aviation professionals, through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in partnership and coordination of the UAE aviation community, ICAO and IATA. A resolution issuing Summit on the subject will convene in Dubai in January 2009. Discussions also highlighted the UAE's leading role in promoting global aviation safety in partnership with ICAO and in accordance with the parameters of the Global Aviation Safety Road Map. "The leadership of the UAE in convening a major summit in January of this year in which a regional plan of action for aviation safety was launched is very commendable and proves the vision and determination of the UAE to lead."Peters said. The Regional Plan of Action for aviation safety was developed and initiated from Abu Dhabi in January 2006 in cooperation with the Flight Safety Foundation and global aviation leaders from all over the world, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ICAO and IATA, Airbus and Boeing Commercial Aircraft. Al Mansouri asserted to the delegation that included Robert Sturgell Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the importance on the need for maintaining regular communication between the two countries in order to enhance and support the operational and logistic needs of UAE carriers that operate to the United States.- end.