Doha: The 22nd meeting of the Middle East Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group (MIDANPIRG/22) and the 12th meeting of the Regional Aviation Safety Group-Middle East (RASG-MID/12) commenced in Doha. The meetings are organized by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from May 4 to 8, 2025.
According to Qatar News Agency, the gatherings have drawn a select group of officials and experts from civil aviation authorities and international organizations throughout the region. These participants aim to discuss key developments and current challenges in air navigation and safety, seeking ways to enhance efficiency in these areas.
In his opening remarks, QCAA Acting President Mohammed Faleh Al Hajri emphasized the event's significance, highlighting the shared commitment of all participating countries to enhance aviation safety, improve air navigation efficiency, and deepen regional cooperation in the Middle East. He noted the growing challenges facing the aviation sector, such as interference with the Global Positioning System (GPS), drone operations, air mobility, and aviation activities in conflict zones.
Al Hajri expressed optimism that the discussions would yield effective proposals and practical measures to mitigate these threats, ensuring safety levels remain within internationally accepted limits. He also mentioned the ongoing work on preparing the National Air Navigation Plans (NANP) and the National Aviation Safety Plans (NASP), as well as developing an integrated safety data collection and processing system (SDCPS). These initiatives are expected to promote a culture of constructive reporting within the sector and facilitate the advanced implementation of both the State Safety Program (SSP) and the Safety Management System (SMS) at the regional level.
He further stated that the MIDANPIRG and RASG groups will play a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth transition toward achieving strategic objectives that will lead to further development and improvement in air safety in the Middle East region.
The agendas of the two meetings include discussions on the latest developments in global and regional aviation strategies, coordination between the MIDANPIRG and RASG-MID groups, and a review of national and regional aviation safety plans. They will also address several important issues related to global and regional air navigation and aviation safety, examining the priorities and challenges facing airports in the Middle East and the future work program for the RASG-MID/MIDANPIRG groups.