قطر تقترب من توسيع مجالها الجوي بعد موافقة منظمة الطيران المدني الدولي

During the meetings of the ICAO Council 223rd Session, which began on June 18th, 2021, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council agreed, in principle, to establish a Doha Flight Information Region (FIR) and Doha Search and Rescue Region (SRR) based on Qatar's proposal, which would include Qatar's sovereign airspace and, to optimize safety and efficiency of the refueling system.

Qatar's proposal also included its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement under which it has delegated to Bahrain the provision of air navigation services over its sovereign territory in accordance with Annex 11's paragraph 2.1.1.

During its meeting, the Council recognized Qatar's right to reqest the establishment of a Doha FIR/SRR over its sovereign territory and contiguous airspace, in accordance with Article 1 of the Chicago Convention and Assembly Resolution A40-4, Appendix G.

Qatar's proposal aims to support the development of safe and sustainable air transport operations in the region while also reinforcing Qatar's commitments to the global aviation sector

The ICAO Council emphasized that regional air navigation plan amendments are dependent on good relations, collaboration, and mutual respect among states, and that these elements are critical to ensuring seamless services with a high level of safety and quality.

During the ICAO Air Navigation Commission's review of the proposal's technical aspects, it was acknowledged that the State of Qatar possesses the capabilities and qualifications required to manage air traffic safely and effectively, as well as to provide world-class search and rescue services.

The ICAO Council acknowledged that the Kingdom of Bahrain had provided safe and efficient air navigation services in the Middle East region for several decades.

The ICAO Council invited both Qatar and Bahrain, as well as surrounding States with an interest in this matter, to discuss cooperatively under the auspices of the Council's President, to agree on appropriate technical arrangements for the implementation of the Doha FIR/SRR, and to report the outcome of these discussions to the Council at its 224th Session for approval of the amendment.

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Prior to that, on June 9, 2021, Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti and his Bahraini counterpart met virtually in the presence of the ICAO Council president to discuss the technical aspects of the State of Qatar's proposal. This was followed by a meeting of both countries' technical committees on June 14, 2021.

HE Minister Al-Sulaiti praised the Council Member States for continuing the sessions despite the pandemic's extraordinary circumstances, as well as for considering and approving the State of Qatar's proposal to establish a Doha FIR/SRR. He thanked and thanked the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its ongoing efforts to serve global civil aviation. He also thanked the ICAO ANC, which has 19 member countries, and the Air Navigation Bureau of the Organization's Secretariat for the enormous amount of work that has gone into addressing the proposal.

HE the Minister said in a speech to the 223rd Council Session, “The proposal by the State of Qatar to establish a Doha FIR/SRR is of great importance for the future of civil aviation, not only in the Middle East region, but throughout the world, and is fully consistent with the objectives of the Chicago Convention.”

Furthermore, he stated, "The proposal represents one of the sovereign rights of the State of Qatar and demonstrates Qatar's massive investments in developing its air navigation system for the benefit of the region as a whole, by providing safe, efficient, and seamless air navigation services." This is due to the country's possession of all the factors and capabilities required for air traffic management, as well as the country's willingness to provide distinct and efficient services in the field of search and rescue.”

He went on to say that “the Chicago Convention clearly stated its objectives, and set out as its primary goal the development of international civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner, such that air transport services would be established on the basis of equality of opportunity, and operated soundly and economically.”

He stated that the State of Qatar has been committed to applying the principles of the Chicago Convention 1944 with high professionalism in terms of peaceful use of airspace, freedom of navigation, and environmental protection since joining the ICAO.

HE The Minister stated that the State of Qatar has strengthened its strong belief in the rules and principles governing the regulation of relations between states in the civil aviation community over the past years, and the State of Qatar is proud to be an active and key participant in this UN organization. He stated that Qatar will go to great lengths to support global civil aviation in order to create an aviation industry that is characterized by safety, security, sustainability, and efficiency.

He went on to say that, based on the Council's decision, preparations for a technical meeting with the Kingdom of Bahrain have already begun in order to complete what the ICAO Council had agreed to and to prepare an implementation plan for the Council's decisions. He concluded by saying that Qatar is looking forward to mutual cooperation to ensure that the decisions are implemented in a timely manner.