To collaborate on climate impact reduction in the Emirates Flight Information Region, Thales has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Etihad Airways and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Thales says that one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions is to optimise flight operations to enable airspace users to choose the most efficient flight plans by following more direct routes, adjusting their flight profiles in real time, using digital tools to enable better collaboration between airspace users and Air Navigation Service Providers.
Said Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the United Arab Emirates commented on the announcement: “We are very proud to collaborate with Etihad Airways and GCAA in their ambition to mitigate the climate impact of aviation and to contribute to the UAE 2031 vision. Our innovations in terms of avionics and flight operations are very much driven by our desire to make aviation ever more sustainable, reducing the climate impact of civil air transport.”
As part of the MOU, the GCAA, Etihad Airways and Thales will test the solutions developed by Thales as part of its “Thales Orchestrator for Eco-Friendly Trajectories” project.
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said: “This initiative aligns with the UAE’s ongoing dedication to sustainability, and it’s in an alignment with the theme of 2024 year being the Year of Sustainability. It underscores the GCAA’s pledge to national priorities and the government’s methodology, while also fulfilling our international commitments within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), particularly the recent announcement in Dubai of the Global Framework for aviation fuel, which sets an ambitious goal of reducing global aviation emissions by 5% by 2030.
“We are confident that our cooperation with Etihad Airways and Thales will pave the way for the aviation sector towards sustainable practices and contribute significantly to the country’s development towards a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Airways said: “Etihad is honoured to be part of this groundbreaking initiative aligning seamlessly with the UAE’s commitment to this venture which epitomises the essence of the Year of Sustainability in 2024.
“Working alongside the GCAA and Thales, this showcases a collective commitment to mitigating the climate impact of aviation, aligning perfectly with the UAE’s visionary 2031 agenda. Etihad takes immense pride in contributing to this initiative, leveraging innovative avionics and advanced flight operations to propel the aviation industry towards a more sustainable future.”
