The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) is adopting a set of measures to enhance civil aviation safety and allow crews the flexibility they need in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GACA President Abdulhadi bin Ahmed Al-Mansouri signed the measures at the authority’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The measures include a general exception allowing the extension of license validity, attestations, and certificates for aircrew, trainers, examiners and flight dispatchers, in accordance with terms and conditions that ensure safety levels.
The move comes as part of the efforts taken by GACA to develop the civil aviation sector in partnership with its stakeholders and in line with the latest international practices during the current circumstances.
Under this procedure, civil aviation companies and aviation crews are given the flexibility to cope with the pressures arising out of the coronavirus pandemic, which is encouraged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and welcomed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
It is noteworthy that these measures are the first of a set of measures GACA intends to take. This is part of the efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the Saudi aviation sector, covering airports, air navigation services, aircraft maintenance, license holders, airworthiness, and ground service providers.
Speaking on the occasion, Mansouri said the safety of aviation and travelers is GACA’s highest priority. He added that the authority is constantly following updates on coronavirus and its potential repercussions, in collaboration with partners in national airlines, to ensure operational safety during the crisis and the resumption of normal air traffic after it ends.
