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MONTRÉAL / WAM
The UAE is participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) first Advanced Air Mobility Symposium (AAM 2024) and its accompanying exhibition, which kicked off on Monday and continues until September 12 in Montréal, Canada.
The UAE delegation, led by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, includes governmental and investment entities, as well as aviation and technology companies, infrastructure developers, and training academies.
The symposium will be focusing on AAM concepts, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, infrastructure and airspace integration.
Al Suwaidi said, “The aviation sector is rapidly evolving, and the concept of advanced air mobility has become central to the UAE’s ambitious future vision. It also represents a key pillar in advancing the shift toward sustainable
transportation.”
“The UAE has made significant progress in this area, being a pioneer in issuing regulations to govern urban air mobility, including those for air taxis and vertiports. These regulations lay the foundation for future infrastructure to support a safe and efficient urban air transportation system, with the goal of launching the first air taxi in Dubai by 2026.”
Mohamed Abdulla Al Salami, Chairman of the Fujairah Department of Civil Aviation, said, “The presence of Fujairah Air Navigation Services (FANS) at this symposium underscores Fujairah DCA’s strategic importance within the UAE’s aviation sector. As a cornerstone of the Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure, our close collaboration with the GCAA and ICAO ensures that we are at the forefront of delivering essential training and contributing to the development of International Aviation standards.
Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director-General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, stated that the gathering plays a crucial role in planning the future of aviation, and the degree of participation underscores the prominence of the attending delegates in this worldwide arena.
The UAE’s pavilion includes representatives from the UAE Cyber Security Council, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) – Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), The Advanced Technology Research Council in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah Air Navigation Services (FANS), (EDGE) the globally renowned UAE technology and defence, High Lander – Specialising in drone traffic management solutions, etisalat by e&, the Etihad Aviation Training, Aspire, Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Volar, Beta, and MLG (Multi-Level Group).
ADIO will join the UAE delegation at ICAO’s first Advanced Air Mobility Symposium (AAM 2024) to showcase its commitment to fostering innovation and investment in the future of air transport.
Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the ITC, stated, This event represents a strategic opportunity to showcase our vision for innovating and developing electric vertical take-off and landing pads, as well as the civil aviation sector, while ensuring the application of global technical standards that align with the latest advancements.”
Shahab Issa Abu Shahab, Director-General of Advanced Technology Research Council, said, “The UAE is on an ambitious journey to be at the forefront of innovation in aviation and is now paving advancements in aircraft propulsion, aerodynamics, intelligent systems, and space exploration, shaping the future of advanced air mobility.”
Waleid Al Mesmari, President – Space and Cyber Technologies at EDGE Group, noted, “As one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, EDGE is driving progress in advanced air mobility through its diverse portfolio of innovative unmanned systems.”
Captain Paolo La Cava, Managing Director of Etihad Aviation Training, said, “We are eager to drive and support these advancements by defining and developing the workforce required to proficiently and safely operate the AAM ecosystem.”