GCAA opens new licensing office

As part of its ongoing effort to improve process and system management in the aviation industry within the UAE,  the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Airline to open a new satellite office at the Emirates Group Headquarters. The new office, which will be facilitated and managed by GCAA, will enable Emirates pilots and cabin crew to issue their licences in a much easier and efficient manner. The MoU was signed by Captain Khalid Humaid Al Ali, Director of Licensing at GCAA, and Captain Alan Stealey, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations, in the attendance of Ismaeil Mohammed Al Balooshi, Director Aviation Safety at the GCAA, Mrs. Eman Al Mesafri, Head of Admin and Exam at GCAA, Adel Al Redha, Executive Vice-President Engineering and Operations, Terry Daly, Divisional Senior Vice-President Service Delivery, and a number of Emirates and GCAA staff. This strategic partnership, which is considered to be the first of its kind in the UAE, demonstrates GCAA’s support and commitment towards the emerging aviation industry in the UAE and their role in meeting the growing demands of air traffic and expansion of national carriers. “One of our fundamental priorities at GCAA is contributing to the growth of the aviation sector in the country and enabling its national carriers. This is embodied in our continuous efforts to provide them with the best, world-renewed solutions and innovative services to ensure they maintain the highest standards of aviation safety and security,” said Captain Al Ali. “Our licensing administration at the GCAA had always been actively planning and incorporating new programs to benefit our strategic partners and the aviation industry in the long run, which includes the inauguration of our new office at Emirates, the launch of our electronic service that issues medical certificates online, and the trial services of pilot and cabin crew licensing,” he added. “The opening of the new licensing office at our headquarters is a great testament to our strong partnership with GCAA. We have no doubt that it will give our employees, whether they are pilots or cabin crew, a more cohesive, seamless experience when issuing their licenses,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President Engineering and Operations. “Emirates extends our sincere thanks to the GCAA for their efforts in establishing this licensing office which will support Emirates’ rapidly-expanding fleet and growing workforce”, he said. The licensing administration at GCAA currently serves more than 50,000 employees working in the aviation sector including pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft engineers.