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The two-day Aviation Safety Conference 2016, jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association, was completed successfully today (May 6).
Under the theme "Challenges and the Way Forward", the Conference brought experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and regulatory authorities together to discuss proactive safety strategies that can effectively manage the key challenges facing aviation safety professionals worldwide, and to share their experiences and views on the way forward.
The Guest of Honour and former Secretary General of the ICAO, Mr Raymond Benjamin, opened the Conference and provided an overview of the international challenges facing the air transport industry today. Addressing the conference, Mr Benjamin said, "Aviation has become a crucial driver of economic, social and cultural development worldwide, supporting some 58 million jobs globally and generating more than 2.4 trillion dollars in economic activity .... Therefore, the growth of a safe, secure, efficient, economically viable and environmentally responsible air transport network is a direct benefit to the world's economy."
Mr Benjamin added that, in the midst of projected doubling of air traffic by 2030, safety remains as the top priority in aviation. Further collaboration and consensus, through the ICAO, will continue to be the best strategy forward for the entire aviation community, he said.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Norman Lo, also called for stronger and consolidated efforts among the aviation safety sectors to meet the challenges in the coming 10 years. He said, "I hope that, by hosting safety conferences like this one and by sharing information from elsewhere, we will be able to meet these challenges collectively, co-operatively and collaboratively. I am sure we will be able to take aviation to a new height, much safer and more efficient."
Over 250 representatives from more than 50 civil aviation authorities, regional organisations and industry members attended the Conference.
The Conference concluded with fruitful results, enabling closer co-operation and promoting safety sharing among aviation safety professionals, including ways to achieve safety improvements, new air traffic management and human resource management initiatives, and address emerging issues. The CAD will continue to explore opportunities to promote a safety culture and strengthen safety partnership with authorities and industry partners within the region.
Ends/Friday, May 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:00
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