Doha: The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has approved the implementation of Phase Two by the State of Qatar for the management of the Doha Flight Information Region/Upper Information Region (FIR/UIR) and the Search and Rescue Region (SRR) following the successful implementation of Phase One where Qatar fulfilled all safety and security requirements.
According to Qatar News Agency, Phase Two, which covers the management of air traffic over international waters, is a critical step toward fully realizing the benefits of airspace modernization. The implementation of Phase Two applies to vertical limits extending from sea level to an unlimited altitude.
By standardizing altitude limits, Phase Two will enhance safety, protect the environment, and improve operational efficiency, benefiting both national and regional interests. This phase also brings numerous operational and environmental advantages, including reduced fuel consumption and emissions, increased capacity, and greater flexibility. In addition, it will strengthen safety, boost efficiency, improve regional and international connectivity, and reinforce Doha's strategic position as a key global aviation hub. Furthermore, it will enable more efficient operations for airlines.
HE Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Thani noted the qualitative achievements made by the State of Qatar over the past few years, which have bolstered the country's positioning in the global aviation industry. He emphasized that these achievements have been recently crowned with the ICAO Council's approval to implement Phase Two of the Doha FIR, marking a significant step toward improving the management of air traffic over international waters north of Qatar.
Mohamed Faleh Alhajri, in charge of managing the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), highlighted that the ICAO Council's decision adds to the advanced steps and previous achievements by the State of Qatar since the approval of Phase One of Doha FIR, which was a milestone in the history of Qatari civil aviation. He noted that Qatar has made significant progress in developing its air navigation systems in line with the latest global standards and specifications.
The QCAA has implemented a range of operational practices and requirements to prepare for the activation of Phase Two. This included adopting safety procedures and committing to ICAO standards, ensuring a seamless transition to the next phase without compromising operational safety. Additionally, infrastructure and technologies have been upgraded, systems and devices updated, and automation processes enhanced to handle the ongoing growth in air traffic.
In terms of human resources and training, sufficient air traffic controllers, technicians, and specialists have been recruited and subjected to intensive training programs and field simulation exercises, in accordance with the requirements of Phase Two.