Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Emphasizes Air Safety as a Strategic Priority

Dr. Samah Hefni, Minister of egypt-and-sudan-strengthen-cooperation-in-civil-aviation-development/">Civil Aviation.

The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority convened the second meeting of the National Committee for Combating Bird and Wildlife Hazards in Egypt. The meeting was organized in collaboration with various ministries and relevant agencies, aiming to enhance operational safety standards at Egyptian airports in line with the latest international practices.

This initiative reflects the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s commitment to improving air safety systems and implementing international regulations recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), under the auspices of Dr. Samah Hefni, Minister of Civil Aviation.

Key attendees included Captain Samah Fawzy, Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, and Pilot Karim Jamil, Advisor to the Head of the Authority and General Director of International Agreements and Committee Rapporteur, along with representatives from various ministries and health, safety, and environmental officials from civil aviation agencies.

The meeting aimed to develop a comprehensive national plan to address bird and wildlife hazards and mitigate their impact on air traffic safety. It also reviewed a roadmap prepared by the Civil Aviation Authority to tackle these risks according to international standards.

In his remarks, Dr. Hefni welcomed participants, emphasizing that civil aviation safety and security are strategic priorities that cannot be compromised. He highlighted that addressing bird and wildlife hazards is a shared responsibility that requires coordinated efforts among all relevant state entities.

He noted that this meeting is one of ICAO’s key requirements, stressing the importance of continued efforts to study bird migration routes and factors attracting them near airports. This will support proactive measures to minimize potential risks to air traffic.

Dr. Hefni confirmed that the ministry is working on enhancing monitoring mechanisms and improving procedures for managing bird and wildlife hazards based on best global practices. He emphasized the need for data exchange among all parties and continuous coordination to achieve the highest operational safety standards at Egyptian airports.

During the meeting, Pilot Karim Jamil presented several clarifications regarding the roles and responsibilities of relevant entities in risk management systems along with key recommendations based on ICAO documents for minimizing sources attracting birds and wildlife around Egyptian airports. This supports the committee’s role in enhancing data exchange and improving air safety standards according to contemporary international norms while discussing Cairo International Airport’s experience in responding to bird and wildlife hazards.