Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Abdul Azeez Mohamed al-Noaimi speaking at the Reco-6 meeting in Doha

 

By Ramesh Mathew
Staff Reporter

Aeronautical meteorology is entering into a new era of rapid and fundamental changes in order to effectively meet the growing requirements of the aviation industry, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) chairman Abdul Azeez Mohamed al-Noaimi stated.

He was speaking while opening the Regional Conference (Reco-6) on the Management of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) of the Regional Association 11 (Asia).

Considering the growing importance of topics as national meteorology and hydrological services the three-day meeting in Doha would cover areas such as the ongoing and forthcoming challenges and future priorities in the strategic operational plans of the Regional Association 11 during 2016-2019.

"Our main priority, as always, is to enhance safety and avoid air mishaps anywhere in the world," observed al-Noaimi.

The civil aviation chairman said the meteorology and related sectors of the entire region would require the services of highly qualified and skilled professionals as there would be a massive upgrading of the existing meteorological infrastructure and the navigation systems.

Al-Noaimi hoped the Doha meeting would help the participants to learn from the experiences of one another and they would evolve workable and practical solutions in their respective areas of work.

While acknowledging the efforts made by some of the regional member countries for their major upgrading of the existing systems, which involved huge spending, the aviation authority chief hoped more similar efforts would be made by member countries in coming days.

Irrespective of the quantum of investment in research and development, al-Noaimi felt it is far from enough to meet the requirements of the global meteorological sector. The region's countries are committed to save the people from all meteorological and hydrological hazards, he added.

Speaking later, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority's Meteorological Department director Ahmed Abdulla Mohamed al-Abdulla said the countries in the region have made remarkable progress in their efforts since the previous gathering held here last summer.

While lauding the support extended to the member countries by the Regional Office of the World Meteorological Organisation, al-Abdulla said their continuous efforts would go a long way in boosting the activities of both the meteorological and aviation sectors. "A lot of deliberations on the risk reduction and aviation safety will take place in the Doha meeting," he said.

Besides Qatar, meteorology experts from Russian Republic, South Asian and Asean countries and Korea are among those attending the meeting.