GCAA convenes ASCC 2025 to advance regulatory innovation

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) hosted the Aviation Safety Consultative Conference (ASCC) 2025 at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Dubai, bringing together key aviation stakeholders from across the UAE under the theme “Regulatory Innovation and Operational Excellence.”

The conference served as a dynamic platform for sharing insights, strategies, and regulatory updates that aim to enhance aviation safety standards in line with the UAE Vision 2031.

“ASCC 2025 reflects our collective ambition to lead through collaboration, innovation, and regulatory agility,” said Eng. Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General of the Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at GCAA: “Together with our industry partners, we continue to build a proactive safety culture that supports sustainable aviation growth for the UAE and beyond.”Key announcements included the release of (Safety Decision 2025-01), which addresses fatigue management in the aviation maintenance environment.

The agenda also covered critical topics such as EVTOL operations, AI-powered compliance systems, weather resilience, emergency preparedness, Acceptable Level of Safety Performance (ALoSP), and Flight and Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) variations.

Participants received important updates on aircrew licensing, training oversight, non-technical competencies, and passenger behaviour management, in addition to enhancements in CAR-AIR OPS regulations and e-service platforms.

The conference also featured a call to action for industry-wide participation in the upcoming (Safety Marathon 2025).

With contributions from leading experts across the UAE aviation sector, ASCC 2025 reaffirmed the country’s strategic commitment to innovation-driven oversight, fostering a proactive safety culture and promoting sustainable aviation development.

Meanwhile the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has issued the world’s first regulatory framework for hybrid operations, enabling both electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft (eVTOLs) and conventional helicopters to operate interchangeably on the same infrastructure.

This innovative regulatory framework represents a significant leap in integrating Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions into existing aviation systems. It offers a cost-effective model for infrastructure development, accelerates operational readiness, and aligns with the UAE government’s directives to implement high-efficiency, non-bureaucratic solutions across various sectors.

Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said, “The UAE has always been at the forefront of excellence in aviation. This pioneering regulatory framework does not merely enable new technology; it redefines how aviation evolves. It reflects our commitment to innovation in developing a supportive ecosystem for the growth of this vital sector and a future where advanced air mobility is seamlessly integrated into our national infrastructure.”

The hybrid operations framework results from close collaboration with international partners in the advanced air mobility sector and is fully aligned with the UAE’s national vision for sustainability, smart mobility, and optimized infrastructure use.

By enabling dual-use between conventional helicopter pads and electric vertical takeoff and landing pads, this initiative helps accelerate implementation timelines, optimises infrastructure utilisation, and cements the UAE’s position as a leader in fostering an integrated ecosystem supporting the future of aviation.

Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director-General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the GCAA, said that this framework is a strategic enabler, not only for new modes of transport but for a smarter, more flexible regulatory environment that keeps pace with emerging technologies without compromising safety standards.

Meanwhile in May General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has concluded the 64th annual conference of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the event has been hosted in the Middle East.

The UAE contributed six technical papers, highlighting national priorities in artificial intelligence, training and airspace innovation.

The conference welcomed 690 participants representing 98 associations.

Ahmed Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Assistant Director-General of the Air Navigation Services Sector at the GCAA, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the UAE’s submissions received wide acclaim and addressed integration of AI in air traffic control, modern training frameworks, zero-bureaucracy management, and advanced technologies adopted as global best practices.

Recommendations from these papers were adopted into IFATCA’s agenda, with one paper set to be developed as a global case study.