Leading members of local and international aviation organizations gathered in Jeddah Sunday to discuss plans to improve the safety of the region's airline industry. The two-day seminar brings together the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Civil Air Navigation Service Organization (CANSO). CANSO is an international aviation authority with members from North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Its members are responsible for 85 percent of the world's air traffic. The theme of the seminar is: “Working together to make the air different”. The two organizations met for the first time last year. “The CANSO safety information exchange program enables every air navigation system provider (ANSP) to share information in a secure and trustworthy environment,” said Abdullah Noor Rahimi, President of CAA. Rahimi said CAA's discussions with CANSO's representatives will look at plans to set up a knowledge database that will cover every aspect of safety. The information gathered by CAA will help to improve the air safety management systems, understand industry best-practice, and improve its handling of risk, said Rahimi. “We are looking to make all the aviation companies, forming part of CANSO, maintain an international forum for on-going discussion and the development and exchange of ideas on current air traffic management-related issues,” said Salem Al-Jahdali, CANSO's Director of Middle East Affairs. According to Al-Jahdali, CANSO, in cooperation with CAA, wants to contribute to global air transport debates; and to promote and support international legislation, regulations and agreements.
