Latest news with #CivilAviationAuthority
Observer
16 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
Omani startup targets onboarding of 5,000 drone pilots
MUSCAT, JULY 28 Omani drone startup SERB, backed by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) through Future Fund Oman (FFO), plans to onboard 5,000 drone pilots as part of its mission to build a comprehensive drone management ecosystem in the Sultanate. One of the most prominent drone-based service providers in the country, SERB is currently partnering with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the development and operation of the 'SERB Platform', a centralized system for drone registration and management. Formally unveiled by the CAA on January 28, 2025, the platform aims to enhance air navigation safety, regulate drone usage, and streamline the permitting process for drone operators. On the first anniversary of its launch, FFO highlighted its partnership with SERB as a model of high-impact economic growth. 'SERB is leading the transformation of drone management in the Sultanate. With support from FFO and strategic collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority, SERB aligns closely with Oman Vision 2040—aiming to enhance airspace safety, foster innovation in drone technology, and support the broad use of drones across the economy,' FFO noted in an Impact Report compiled by Oxford Business Group. As part of its strategic goal to foster skills development and industry growth, SERB aims to initially onboard around 5,000 drone pilots. It has also laid the groundwork for collaboration with 13 government entities to build the regulatory framework underpinning the platform. Once fully operational, the SERB Platform will offer a range of services including safe zone identification to help drone operators locate authorized areas for activities, a registration portal to simplify drone registration and permit acquisition, air traffic management capabilities to ensure safe integration into existing airspace, and environmental protection compliance mechanisms to uphold safety standards for people, property, and the natural environment. Looking ahead, SERB has ambitions to expand its regional footprint. 'SERB aims to extend its operations to regional markets, including Abu Dhabi, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It plans to onboard major players in drone delivery, broaden the platform's capabilities, and position itself as a leader in technological innovation and ecosystem acceleration,' FFO added. Oman's domestic drone industry has seen strong momentum in recent years, attracting tens of millions of dollars in investment. A wave of startups and tech ventures now specialize in areas such as aerial inspection, precision agriculture, logistics, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure surveying. An increasing number of government ministries, oilfield operators, and logistics companies are partnering with local drone firms to implement innovative services—for example, deploying pesticide-spraying drones in date farms. Regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), have introduced technical standards and frameworks to nurture innovation within the sector. The continued growth of the drone ecosystem also supports youth entrepreneurship and the integration of advanced technologies—such as AI-powered logistics and smart agriculture—into national development strategies.
Cedar News
3 days ago
- Cedar News
Cambodia's Civil Aviation Authority has shut down airspace over conflict areas
BREAKING: Cambodia's Civil Aviation Authority has shut down airspace over conflict areas near the Thai border, directing airlines to detour for safety.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More than 1,500 people sign petition against Southampton Airport plans to fell trees
More than 1,500 people have signed a petition against Southampton Airports plans to fell trees at a Southampton cemetery. The petition opposes plans to fell 19 trees in South Stoneham Cemetery - which have been identified by the Civil Aviation Authority as a hazard to flight safety at nearby Southampton Airport. Campaigners say the trees are "living memorials" and vital to the character of the cemetery. Trees at South Stoneham Cemetery (Image: NQ) The petition reads: "The trees are more than just part of the landscape—they are living memorials, silent witnesses to the lives commemorated here. "Their loss would not only diminish the visual and ecological richness of the area, but also undermine the very character that makes the cemetery a haven of peace and remembrance." Southampton Airport has applied to Southampton City Council - which the council granted on July 16. READ MORE: Southampton Airport given permission to chop down 19 cemetery trees A spokesman for Southampton Airport said: "We are legally obliged to maintain a clear and safe airspace for the aircraft that fly to and from our airport. "Our application related to 29 trees that were identified by the Civil Aviation Authority as presenting a hazard and we are therefore required to have a management plan in place. "We presented a range of measures for officials to consider that would allow us to remove the risk presented by the trees while also enhancing the biodiversity of the local area. "This included a comprehensive replanting scheme both within South Stoneham Cemetery and across Southampton, as well as the creation of new hedgerows and a meadow. "It is important we work in partnership with the council and we look forward to working with officials to agree the final details of the tree management plan." Campaigners argue that the environmental impact of removing mature trees cannot be offset by new planting, as young trees would take decades to reach similar ecological value. Stoneham Cemetery is home to wildlife including kestrels, owls, bats, and woodpeckers. Bats would lose crucial roosting sites, and campaigners warn that increased light pollution could further harm the area's biodiversity. The petition continues: "We urge Southampton Airport to reconsider its plans and explore alternative solutions that do not encroach upon this deeply valued and ecologically significant site."
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Disability: ‘I just want to get home to my family,' says wheelchair user
Katie Trodler was due to fly home from Hamburg, Germany, when the assistance staff failed to turn up. The plane was delayed for an hour while they waited, with the pilot telling the mum-of-one he would "physically carry" her on to the plane if the problem did not get fixed. As a wheelchair user she said it was an "embarrassing" experience, but according to her and others is not a unique one."I'm not choosing this situation. I'm not a passenger that's kicked off. I'm not drunk and disorderly. I just want to travel like everyone else on the plane and get home to see my kid and husband," said Katie, from Holywell, Flintshire. According to Welsh Paralympic gold medallist David Smith, the way people with a disability get on and off a plane, and the problems they experience, "hasn't changed in the last 20 years". The Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator, said investment from airports and airlines had resulted in "significant improvements" for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, but admitted there was "much more" to week former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson published a set of recommendations after leading a UK government-commissioned review looking at how airline and airport staff support disabled Rights UK has called for urgent action, and said disabled people have been made to feel like "second-class citizens". Katie has been a wheelchair user most of her life after a cancerous tumour damaged her spine when she was 10 months became a regular in the skies 15 years ago when she started a long-distance relationship and now frequently flies for the most part the flying process was "smooth", she said, but when Covid hit, the 37-year-old noticed a difference in the service."Staffing levels are much lower. When I flew from Hamburg the assistance didn't turn up and the plane got delayed by an hour," Katie said. "It was so embarrassing because everyone on the plane knew why their flight was delayed."The mother-of-one said she often felt like a burden when flying and that staff and passengers are not happy when there is a delay. "I think it adds an extra layer. It's already stressful worrying if your chair is going to be in one piece when you arrive and on top of that you feel like they hate you as a passenger."Katie added she has needed to "argue" her case to use her personal wheelchair when checking in at airports, as staff had previously insisted she use a porters chair without the correct support which had to be pushed by someone said: "Where's the dignity? Where's the autonomy?" Karen Beattie, 64, had a motorbike accident in 1994 leaving her with a spinal many years she did not fly after hearing about the "hassle" of getting on and off a plane and the worry of equipment being now tries to get abroad at least once a year, but dreads flying because she does not know what assistance she will receive from the airport and from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, said to get on to a plane she needs to use an aisle chair rather than her own manual chair, with staff helping by lifting under her arms and legs."They didn't work together and didn't lift me high enough causing the aisle chair to fall over," she said, recalling one experience. "They had to try and put me back on my chair and it was then that I was nearly dropped. I was concerned that I would have bruises and even a pressure sore."Another time, Karen said she was left "mortified" when a pilot blamed loading her wheelchair as the reason for a delayed take off. "You're just hoping that the ground could open up and swallow you because you become the spectacle, you become the entertainment before the fight takes off."I complain to the airport every year but there hasn't been any improvements," she said. Paralympic gold medallist David Smith said the process for him to get on to a plane was "quite soul-destroying" and had not changed in the last 20 years."I don't think we've made any progress," said David, from Swansea, who has cerebral palsy."I find a lot of the assistance staff aren't suitable for the job. People who can't help with moving and handling where their job is to literally lift me from one point to another."Recently, David said he had noticed more care taken by the ground staff when handling his 36-year-old said: "I think there's less damage nowadays than there used to be back in the day. So that's good."David added he understood some logistical problems cannot be helped, but said employing the right staff and providing the correct training could prevent bad experiences for future flyers with a the findings led by Baroness Grey-Thompson, last week's review said airline and airport staff were receiving "inconsistent" training, providing 19 recommendations, including disability awareness training being rolled out for all aviation roles, such as crew, ground services and hospitality. A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it "regularly" set standards on accessibility at the UK's main airports and reported on how these are met, resulting in "significant improvements" for disabled passengers."We strongly believe that everyone should have access to air travel and expect all passengers from the UK to be able to enjoy the best possible flight," they authority acknowledged "there is still much more to do" following Baroness Grey-Thompson's report, adding: "We continue to hold airlines to account in meeting their obligations to disabled and less mobile passengers across all parts of their journey."Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, said: "Flying is not a luxury. It's a fundamental freedom that should be accessible to everyone. For too many disabled people air travel is marked by stress, anxiety, indignity and exclusion. "Airlines, airports and regulators must recognise that disabled people have the right to fly with the same independence, safety and dignity as everyone else. Anything less is unacceptable."
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Climate
- Sharjah 24
Philippines braces for typhoon Co-May impact
Deadly rains and strengthening storm Typhoon Co-May, upgraded from a tropical storm overnight, follows several days of intense monsoon rains that have killed at least 19 people and left 11 missing since July 18, according to the national disaster agency. Storm forecast and landfall With maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), Co-May is expected to make landfall on Luzon's west coast, likely between La Union and Ilocos Sur provinces, by Friday morning, according to the country's weather bureau. Marcos urges adaptation to climate change President Marcos emphasised the growing impact of climate change, stating that Filipinos must prepare to adapt to changing climate patterns, calling this extreme weather 'the new normal.' Travel disruptions and school closures Around 70 domestic and international flights were cancelled on Thursday due to severe weather, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The government also suspended all classes across Luzon through Friday. Evacuations amid rising floodwaters Earlier in the week, tens of thousands of people were evacuated across Manila due to widespread flooding. Some neighborhoods were submerged in waist-deep water, while residents in nearby provinces required rescue by boat.
