Emerging Markets FOD, Bird Strike Prevention and Runway Safety Conference 2011 set to make debut in Dubai

The cost to repair an FOD-damaged engine can easily
exceed $1 million – Boeing Report

•

FOD costs airlines US$263K per 10,000 movements in
direct maintenance costs - Insight SRI Ltd. Report

Dubai, UAE, 6th of August, 2011: The first “Emerging Markets FOD, Bird Strike
Prevention and Runway Safety Conference 2011”, supported by the Dubai
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
(GCAA), will be held on 26th & 27th October, 2011 at Aviation Club in Dubai.

More than 250 local and international and GCC delegates are expected to
participate in the event which will feature 15 eminent speakers representing
IFALPA, ICAO, Civil Aviation Authority, Euro control, FAA, Technical Training,
Navigation Aid, Radar, Regional Airlines and Airports safety managers
deliberating on topics related to operational as well as functional, regulatory,
economic and legal aspects of the FOD & Bird strike risk to aviation, prevention
techniques and equipment and technological advancements.

The risk posed by Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and Bird Strike represents
one of the largest economic and cost-reduction opportunities available to the
aviation industry. Ironically, they are also among the least understood and least
discussed risks.

According to ‘The economic cost of FOD to airlines’ report by Insight SRI
Ltd. “The largest 300 airports collectively service slightly fewer than 55 million
movements per year, and see up to 70,000 FOD incidents. Depending on traffic
and the specifics of their operating environment, this FOD causes airlines to

incur (collectively) direct costs as high as US$20 million per airport per year.
FOD costs airlines US$263K per 10,000 movements in direct maintenance
costs. Overall spend for the top 300 airports are US$1.1Bn. If the indirect cost of
delays, plane changes, fuel inefficiencies, etc., are added then the cost of FOD
increases by a multiple of up to 10x, to US$12 billion pa.”

Likewise, a Boeing Report estimates the cost to repair an FOD-damaged engine
can easily exceed $1 million. The report says FOD can also incur extensive
indirect costs, including: flight delays and cancellations - leading to a loss of
customers, schedule disruptions, and potential liability because of injury.

Radar systems and other safety related equipments will be on display during
the conference and the event will provide an ideal opportunity for all the aviation
and airport related safety officials in the region to interact with the international
community to share their expertise and to know the various prevention methods
adopted in the various global airlines and airports.

Dr. Khalid Almazroui, Conference Chairman and the General Manager of
Fujairah Airport, commented: “This conference is the first of its kind conference
to be held in the region and will address the growing need to maintain the high
safety standards within the airline and airport fraternity. This conference will
provide an opportunity to all the attendees to interact with the global safety
professionals, to know the best prevention practices, effective methods and new
technologies. This conference will also support the initiatives of the regional
regulatory authorities to maintain the high level safety standards within the
industry”.

Air BP, Emirates, Munich International Airport, Fujairah International Airport,
Robin Radar Systems and DETECT are associating with this event as Sponsors
and organized by Arabian Reach FZ LLC and Co-hosted by Media Sultan
Communications MFZ LLC.