Saudi Arabia Showcases Global Leadership In Advanced Air Mobility At ICAO Forum

Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, highlighted a major shift in Saudi Arabia's civil aviation sector. This change is driven by the National Aviation Strategy, which aims to fulfil Vision 2030's goals of economic diversification and prosperity. Al-Duailej shared these insights during Saudi Arabia's participation at the first forum of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Montreal, Canada.

The forum took place from September 9 to 12, 2024, and was attended by ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano, representatives from ICAO member states, and global aviation leaders. Al-Duailej emphasized that Saudi Arabia's involvement underscores its leadership in advanced and international civil aviation. Earlier this year, GACA introduced the Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap, aligning with the National Aviation Strategy. This roadmap focuses on seven key pillars: adopting technical solutions, developing infrastructure, achieving comprehensive governance, building trust, attracting investments, setting regulations and systems, and empowering human capital.

During the forum, ICAO awarded students from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) with the Advanced Air Mobility Global Academic Paper Competition award. This recognition highlights Saudi Arabia's capabilities in advanced air mobility and its dedication to integrating these technologies. The Kingdom aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2060 through such initiatives.

Al-Duailej called on civil aviation authorities worldwide to collaborate and address challenges together. He stressed the importance of building partnerships to ensure the success of advanced air mobility technologies globally. The Kingdom's investments in electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) were also highlighted as part of its commitment to advanced research.

In addition to his participation in the forum, Al-Duailej held separate bilateral meetings with ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano and Barry Butler, President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. These discussions focused on enhancing international cooperation within the civil aviation sector.

Saudi Arabia's active role in forums like ICAO's AAM event demonstrates its commitment to leading advancements in civil aviation. By investing in innovative technologies and fostering global partnerships, the Kingdom aims to achieve its ambitious Vision 2030 goals while contributing to global efforts towards sustainable aviation.

With inputs from SPA