Qatar added another feather in its hat yesterday as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council has agreed, in principle, on the establishment of Doha Flight Information Region and Doha Search and Rescue Region (FIR/SRR) drawing on Qatar’s proposal. The FIR/SRR would include Qatar’s sovereign airspace and will optimise safety and efficiency of the regional airspace and the contiguous airspace over the high seas.
The proposal by Qatar also included its intention to withdraw from the current arrangement whereby it has delegated to Bahrain the provision of air navigation services over its sovereign territory in accordance with the Chicago Convention.
The ICAO Council during its 223rd session which began on June 18, acknowledged the right of Qatar to request the establishment of Doha FIR/SRR over its sovereign territory and contiguous airspace consistent with the Chicago Convention and in accordance with the Assembly Resolution A40-4, Appendix G.
Once implemented, the proposal and resultant action will improve the safety and convenience of air travel over Qatar, which has become a busy region as the country’s flag carrier, Qatar Airways, has expanded its destinations and frequency of services with the establishment of the Hamad International Airport, which has become a regional hub of international air travel.
The global airspace is divided into nine ICAO air navigation regions, sometimes called Global Air Navigation Plan regions, which is further divided into small flight information regions (FIRs). Each FIR is managed by a controlling authority that has responsibility for ensuring that air traffic services are provided to the aircraft flying within it.
During an ICAO Air Navigation Commission’s review of the technical aspect of Qatar’s proposal, it was acknowledged that the country possesses the capabilities and qualifications to manage air traffic safely and effectively and to provide leading services in the field of search and rescue.
In his speech at the 223rd session of the ICAO Council, Minister of Transport and Communication H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said: “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 the entire world and is fully consistent with the objective of the Chicago Convention.”
Qatar can be proud of the ICAO Council’s move as the country’s international airport is handling millions of passengers from every corner of the world. At present, the HIA serves 142 destinations and caters to 33 airlines operating at the airport. Even during the pandemic, the HIA remained a beehive of activities processing tens of thousands of travellers and handling essential cargoes such as medical equipment, vaccines and relief materials.
