Abu Dhabi Airports has been awarded the UAE's first Aerodrome Flight Information Services (AFIS) certification from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), for Sir Bani Yas Airport.

AFIS is provided at airfields where flight information is required, but where the aircraft traffic does not warrant having a full Air Traffic Control service. AFIS can provide information to pilots about other known traffic that is landing, taking off, or flying in the vicinity of the airfield, as well as relevant meteorological information and status of the runway. Based upon information received from AFIS, the pilot will determine how best to safely operate the flight.

H.E. Eng. Awaidah Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports commented:"The successful delivery of this project means that Sir Bani Yas is the first unit within the UAE to obtain this type of certification. We thank all our partners and stakeholders for their kind support, and look forward to the further development of this airport."

H.E. Saif Al Suwaidi - Director General GCAA commented: "The Aerodrome Flight Information Service Regulations are the first in this region, and in fact amongst the first in the world. Thus the issue of a certificate for this service is a new concept, and it has taken a great deal of preparation in order to achieve the high standard necessary for the approval to be awarded. Abu Dhabi Airports and GAL Air Navigation Services are to be congratulated for their accomplishment as the first unit in the region to receive this ground-breaking certification".

Mr. Mohammad Al Dossari - GCAA Director Air Navigation and Aerodromes - awarded the first AFIS certificate in accordance with Civil Aviation Regulations. Mr. Al Dossari praised the company for its application and for the significant amount of diligent work that has been applied in order to process the required documentation and procedures.

To achieve certification Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officers (AFISOs) had to be trained to GCAA standards, new AFIS procedures were introduced, a watch tower built, and technical equipment, including communication and recording systems, installed.

ADAC successfully obtained the certification after upgrading the service provided by the previous radio operator service.

Contributed by Abu Dhabi Airports