This week, delegations of senior civil aviation officials representing more than 14 countries in the Middle East and Africa are in Marrakesh for a high-profile conference on air safety, organized by the Arab Organization of Civil Aviation (OAAC), the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Government of Morocco.
During the week, aviation experts will share best practices on protecting civil aviation against threats, including those posed by cyberattacks, drones, chemical and biological attacks, and explosives. The working groups will ensure the development of effective risk management strategies related to such threats.
“The global transportation security industry can only work if we emphasize the word global”TSA Regional Director Jason Schwabel said in his opening remarks. “The threats we face respect neither borders nor nationality. The world depends on our close collaboration, aimed at ensuring the safety of our transport systems”.
Jason Schwabel also congratulated Morocco, the host country of the conference, stressing that the United States and Morocco have a mutual commitment to supporting regional peace and security. In May last year, Morocco hosted the Ministerial Meeting of the Anti-Daesh Coalition, the first such gathering on the African continent, which also took place in Marrakech.
Abdennabi Manar, Director General of OAAC, also gave a keynote address (OAAC, headquartered in Rabat, represents civil aviation authorities across the Middle East and Africa. It has 22 Member States):
“The relationship between the OAAC and the TSA is strong. Our partnership contributes to the strengthening of aviation safety in the Arab region and beyond. OAAC and the US TSA have complementary and reinforcing roles in supporting international civil aviation security. We will further mobilize all the skills at our disposal to pursue our common objectives for the benefit of our community.”Manar said in his remarks.
Several US government agencies are supporting the organization of the conference, including the US State Department’s Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS), as well as the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Morocco’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation also provided essential support for the meeting, a recent example of the strong partnership between the United States and the OAAC.
In December, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the OAAC met in Rabat at a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at increasing aeronautical cooperation in the region.