Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013 to host AOPA UAE’s First Meeting with International AOPA’s

Under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Security Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council

Under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Security Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) today announced that it will be hosting a workshop with the Airline Owners and Pilots’ Association (AOPA) during the Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013. The announcement follows the launch of the Middle Eastern branch of AOPA at last year’s Air Expo, held at Al Bateen Executive Airport.

AOPA UAE is using Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2013 as an opportunity to invite representatives from international AOPA branches to attend a workshop dedicated to discussing and debating general aviation issues in the region. The meeting will take place at the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies at Al Bateen Executive Airport on 6th March running parallel with the Middle East’s only dedicated general aviation event - Abu Dhabi Air Expo, which takes place between 5th and 7th March.

It is anticipated that up to 80 representatives from the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilots’ Associations (IAOPS), AOPA USA, AOPA United Kingdom, AOPA Germany and AOPA France, will attend to meet with their colleagues from the United Arab Emirates, to share knowledge and discuss a variety of topics including: air space regulations, aerial non-commercial operations, certification and maintenance issues, as well as pilot licensing. AOPA members will also be able to maximise their time by attending the Air Expo where they will be able to learn more about the latest trends in the aviation industry, and to meet pilots from across the region.

Yousif Hassan Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for Abu Dhabi Air Expo, General Manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport, said:

“As a new AOPA, AOAP UAE wish to benefit from the experience accumulated by other AOPA’s, and this meeting to be held during ADAC’s Abu Dhabi Air Expo marks the perfect opportunity. The UAE skies are opening and the company wants to improve its understanding about how AOPA’s from other regions have helped change the regulatory environment in their countries. Increasingly, more people are embracing general aviation in the UAE resulting in the need to find creative solutions that enable pilots of aircraft ranging from LSA up to business jets and helicopters to exercise the privileges of their licenses. AOPA UAE need to progress quickly in order to respond to the increased number of pilots engaged in non-commercial operations, so it can adapt some of their best practice for the UAE region.”

Since inauguration of the 70th branch of the IAOPA just one year ago, AOPA UAE has grown to more than 100 members and has taken steps towards achieving its goal of uniting pilots, owners and operators, based in the Emirates, through information provision and regular meetings. The association continues to encourage young enthusiasts to become pilots and this year’s meeting aims to continue to encourage the development of solutions in which will ease access to airspace, airports and international travel.

The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) is a non-profit federation of 70 autonomous, non-governmental, national general aviation organizations around the world. IAOPA has represented international general aviation for nearly 50 years and serves a combined total of 470,000 pilot members worldwide who fly general aviation aircraft for business and personal use.

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Mar 3, 2013

Back