GCAA launches workshops on winter weather challenges in aviation

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) held a workshop with its strategic partners in Dubai to discuss challenges associated with weather fluctuations, sharing field experiences and best practices that strengthen preparedness for handling similar future conditions.

This workshop is part of a series planned by the GCAA to be held with all its partners across the UAE to ensure a high level of readiness for facing various weather conditions.

The workshop, organised by the Aviation Safety Affairs sector within the GCAA, saw participation from around 30 representatives from various entities, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and flydubai.

The session particularly focused on challenges related to severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, and emphasised the importance of raising readiness levels to effectively manage these conditions, ensuring the smooth flow of air traffic within Dubai, as well as passenger movements to, from, and within the airport, in preparation for winter spanning from November to early March.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, stated, “Organising these workshops is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the sector’s ability to effectively respond to future challenges and ensure the continuity of aviation operations at the highest levels of safety and efficiency, even in the toughest weather conditions.”

Al Suwaidi added, “Strengthening cooperation among all involved parties is crucial to ensure a swift and efficient response to emergency weather conditions. Workshops like these provide an ideal platform to explore different potential scenarios and train teams to achieve the highest levels of readiness and coordination, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers and the seamless flow of air traffic nationwide under any circumstances.”

During the workshop, participants also discussed challenges that heavy rainfall may pose to aviation operations, such as flight delays and passenger congestion, and reviewed innovative solutions, including the development of airport drainage systems, streamlining traffic routes to the airport, enhancing early weather-sensing technologies, and training ground and air crews to manage crises related to heavy rain.