ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has been elected as one of the Facilitation Panel Members by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters in Montreal, Canada, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. The ICAO Facilitation (FAL) Program is based on the Chicago Convention that requires the civil aviation community to comply with laws governing the inspection of aircraft, cargo and passengers by authorities concerned with customs, immigration, agriculture and public health. All ICAO member states are obligated to adopt standards and expedite the necessary formalities in order to minimize operational delays. The facilitation aspect in civil aviation environment is important as it seeks to achieve maximum efficiency in border clearance operations and at the same time achieve and maintain high-quality security and effective law enforcement. With the inclusion of UAE, the ICAO Facilitation Panel Members now comprises of 30 States and the panel meets once every two years. UAE is not only working closely within the Middle East region but also supporting ICAO's initiatives in setting global civil aviation standards and guidance to enhance the safety, security, environmental effects and efficiency of civil aviation. UAE's inclusion in the facilitation panel is critical at this juncture as the civil aviation sector is booming and witnessing an unprecedented growth rate. Accordingly, UAE civil aviation policy has been based around achieving a balance between trade, tourism and consumer benefits and maintaining a strong UAE-based aviation sector. BN
