The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has confirmed a sharp increase in aviation traffic during the first quarter of 2010 – bucking wider industry trends.

The UAE saw 12 per cent growth in total air movements during the first quarter of 2010, with movements for the first three months of the year reaching 153,000.

This is compared to 137,000 during the same period last year, the authority said in a statement.

Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, director general of GCAA, said: “Air operations in the UAE saw significant growth in the first quarter of 2010.

“This highlights the success of the UAE in maintaining high level of stability amid the current conditions and challenges.

“Air traffic is a strong indicator of the UAE’s ability to maintain its advantages at all levels, which forms a strong ground for starting the development of policies that encourage manufacturing in civil aviation in the United Arab Emirates.”

The GCAA also announced average daily air traffic movements in March stood at 1,734, which represents an increase of 12.5 per cent when compared to the 1,542 air traffic movements in the same period last year.

GCAA’s monthly report for March also showed that total UAE air traffic movements were 53,750, an increase of almost 12.5 per cent when compared to March 2009.

African Connections

The GCAA also recently signed memorandum of understanding with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in Montreal, Canada.

Under the terms of the agreement, the GCAA, in cooperation with the Academy of Technical Training and the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies, will offer training courses and grants to AFCAC member-states from 2010-12 to develop specialised human resources in civil aviation.

The memorandum, which is in line with GCAA’s strategic objective of strengthening international cooperation in civil aviation with various regional organisations, seeks to tackle human resource capacity building in Africa.

“We see a very strong strategic partnership with the AFCAC member states,” said Mr Mohammad Al Suwaidi.

“Qualified and specialised human resources have always been the key factors of excellence in the civil aviation industry and have played an essential role in promoting this industry within the national economy system,” he concluded.