Abu Dhabi, 14th Nov. 2009 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, inaugurated the Dh 300 Sheikh Zayed Centre for Air Traffic Movement of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

As he toured the facility, Sheikh Hazza said he was impressed with advanced systems at the Centre which he praised as one of the major development projects in the country.

''The Centre, which boosts the highest safety standards in handling air traffic embodies the far-sighted vision of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and sound directives of H.H. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for reinforcing the UAE's position as a key transit pointfor air flights between the East and West and as a strategic destination for stimulating economic, tourist and cultural activities regionally and internationally,''he added.

''The Centre will play a vital role in propelling the aviation sector to advancedlevels worldwide,''he said.

Minister of Economy and Chairman of GCCA HE Sultan Al Mansouri said the strategic air navigation facility would leverage the UAE to the world's top ranks in the civil aviation sector and further bolster international confidence in the UAE's capabilities in this vital sector.

''This underlines the strength and vibrancy of our national economy to makequalitative achievements which further entrench the UAE place at the clubof advanced nations,''he added.

''The establishment of the Centre is a great achievement ........ it standstestimony to the state-of-the-art infrastructure the aviation sector has,''he affirmed.

According to him, the UAE civil aviation sector has posted high growth rates over the recent years, reaching 10 per cent in the first ten months of the current year despitethe international financial crisis.

The Director General of General Civil Aviation Authority, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, said the Centre was designed and built at bar with the highestinternational standards and fitted with the most advanced technology and operational systems in order to cope with the projected growth of air traffic movement in the next 20 years The project, completed in early June 2009, is considered the largest and most advanced air traffic management facility in the Middle East.

Sheikh Zayed Centre comprises two main buildings the air traffic control centre building (ACC) and the Emergency ACC each of which has been designed to satisfy a range of operational requirements.

Also featuring on the site are four unique design 60m masts for the communications equipment antennas providing a blend of aesthetic quality with practical application. The centre considered autonomous for power providing four levels of fallback from prime power for the main Air Traffic Centre (ATC) equipment.

The Main ACC building has a 600m2 ATC room with sufficient sector suites with the latest technology to accommodate traffic growth for 20 years or a total traffic volume exceeding 2 million annual movements.

The centre equipped with new equipment includes ATM display system, ARTAS and AMHS from Comsoft, while integrated voice communication is supplied by Park Air Systems and the Micro Nav ATC simulator, being installed in the Emergency ACC. Sheikh Zayed Centre has a total of 76 working positions for live ACC, military liaison and emergency cum training roles. This represents a tripling of current capacity.

The ATM system permits flexible sectorisation to task individual air traffic controllers in the most safe and efficient manner and with a number of modern tools such as arrival and stack managers as ell as medium term conflict detection to optimize traffic handling.

The GCAA is considered the pioneer in areas such as integration of ADS-B in the surveillance picture through the ARTAS tracker, which was installed in the centre on 1 June 2009, design and operational implementation of RNAV 1 routes both for en-route and in terminal environments. Together, these modernisation programmes serve to alleviate traffic congestion, minimise delays, shorten routes and create the capacity necessary for sustained growth in air traffic necessary for the economic well-being of the country.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.