By Mohamed Attia
Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, visited the headquarters of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) in Brussels, where he was received by the organisation’s CEO, Raul Marino Caballero. Accompanying him was Captain Ehab Mohie Eldin, chairman of the National Air Navigation Services Company.
The visit focused on strengthening co-operation between Egypt and the European Union in the field of air navigation. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination to implement safety standards for air traffic from the Middle East and flights heading to Europe through Egyptian airspace. Discussions also included the potential training of Egyptian personnel on the latest satellite navigation applications (GNSS).
El-Hefny underscored Egypt’s commitment to collaborating with international and regional organisations to unify efforts in civil aviation. He highlighted the importance of developing air traffic management systems, upgrading air navigation mechanisms, and fostering continuous training and knowledge exchange to enhance the skills of aviation personnel.
The minister also referenced Egypt’s ongoing co-operation with Eurocontrol, which includes a bilateral agreement allowing Egypt to collect navigation fees under Eurocontrol’s mandate in alignment with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Joint efforts have also focused on managing air traffic flows.
Eurocontrol’s CEO praised the expertise of Egyptian air traffic controllers, citing their professionalism in managing air traffic and handling exceptional situations, such as sudden closures of neighbouring airspaces. He also acknowledged Egypt’s critical role in supporting international coordination efforts to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation, noting that 5% of air traffic to Europe passes through Egyptian airspace.
At the end of the visit, El-Hefny invited Eurocontrol representatives to visit Cairo’s air navigation center to further enhance collaboration and coordination.
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