Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, hosted a global airline safety workshop on behalf of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) in Abu Dhabi this week.

The three-day event concluded at the new Etihad Airways Centre in Abu Dhabi today (June 26), with officials from Iata and a number of its airline members discussing the importance of moving toward an Integrated Management System (IMS) to enhance the safety standards of airlines.

Introducing such a system would help to ensure compliance with global regulations, including the Iata Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) annexes, while also consolidating key airline management systems to create a single platform that covers areas such as health and safety, security, environment and personnel.

Paolo La Cava, Etihad Airways vice president Corporate Safety and Quality, said: “Safety is our number one priority. We are delighted to host this workshop on behalf of Iata, and pleased to have been part of the productive discussions with our airline colleagues from across the world.

“The global airline industry is making considerable progress in establishing an Integrated Management System, which will enhance risk mitigation and the assessment of operational hazards.

“It will also consolidate existing systems such as the Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Management System (QMS), leading to a reduction in duplication and costs, an increase in efficiency and profitability, and the elimination of any conflicting responsibilities.” – TradeArabia News Service