DGCA committed to highest safety standards in aviation: Official

KUWAIT: Acting Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Duaij Al-Otaibi said on Sunday that the directorate pays great attention to achieving the highest standards of security and safety in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and all regional and international organizations. "Kuwait has succeeded in developing the infrastructure of the air transport sector and adopted the best international standards in the field of civil aviation,” Al-Otaibi told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during an event held to mark World Civil Aviation Day, which falls on December 7 every year.

He added that these efforts contributed to enhancing the efficiency of air services, which reflected positively on the passenger experience and improved the level of safety and comfort in flights, stressing the country’s commitment to the continuous development of this vital sector. He explained that DGCA succeeded in developing the infrastructure of the sector and establishing a new cargo city, a modern runway and a specialized administrative building in addition to providing a new simulator, which is the most modern in the Middle East and is used to train air traffic controllers and help develop and train air navigation personnel.

Al-Otaibi stated that the Civil Aviation Authority has adopted a general strategy consistent with the future of the aviation sector and in line with the regulations and procedures of the ICAO, stressing the importance of enhancing the competencies of national cadres and working to enhance state revenues from the important aviation sector and enhance safety and aviation security. He pointed out that the administration continues to support ICAO programs and policies and keep abreast of international best practices, noting that Kuwait has a long history in the organization as it joined it in 1960.

He expressed hope that the proposed law to transform the DGCA into an independent technical body would soon be approved, contributing to a significant leap forward in the civil aviation sector and achieving the goals outlined in the country’s overall aviation strategy. — KUNA