Egypt signs up to Middle East air space programme

Egypt has become the latest country to sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the ICAO Middle East Airspace Management Enhancement Programme (MAEP) joining founder members the United Arab Emirates and Sudan.

And Ahmed Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Assistant Director General, Air Navigation Services Provider of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) who chairs the MAEP Board says another two states are imminently expected to sign the MoA ahead of the October Board meeting in Cairo.

Al Jallaf expects next month’s meeting to agree the establishment of a permanent MAEP project management office (PMO) to be headed by a dedicated project manager – five MoA signatories will be needed to give the go-ahead. “We can then work on some of the required documentation and look at the outcome of the interim PMO,” said Al Jallaf.

The industry-led, interim PMO has been working “behind-the-scenes” on funding proposals, including the feasibility of sponsorship from international organisations. Al Jallaf said the UAE has already committed to making an in-kind contribution.
The permanent PMO will look at developing a regional masterplan and evolve project charters and produce projected cost and benefit analyses.

The ICAO MAEP initiative is aimed at developing regional co-operation for air traffic management and route network optimisation in one of the world’s highest air traffic growth regions.