Cargo aircraft banned from UAE skies | Transportation News from Arabian Supply Chain Online Middle East Editorials
A decision by the General Civil Aviation Authority to ban the Antonov-12 cargo aircraft from the UAE’s airspace has resulted in a number of airfreight companies joining forces to combat the move, according to the website of the National newspaper.
Although a representative from the General Civil Aviation Authority could not be reached by Air Cargo Middle East & India at the time of going to press, the decision is thought to have been taken after a spate of incidents involving the Soviet-era aircraft, including a crash last year in Iraq, in which seven people died.
On 2nd January, an An-12 veered off the runway at Sharjah International Airport during its take-off procedure. According to the National, the notice provided by the General Civil Aviation Authority indicated that the aircraft could be flown out of UAE airports by today, but only after a comprehensive flight check.
It is estimated that around 15 air cargo operators in the UAE use the workhorse aircraft type, which has a payload of 20 tonnes, and which operates from the airports in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Soviet-era aircraft of this type are often used to carry humanitarian and industrial equipment to hard-to-reach locations, due to their ability to land at remote landing fields and the fact that their onboard equipment means that they are well-suited for use at airports that lack sophisticated ground-handling infrastructure.
At the time of going to press, it was still unclear whether the ban was permanent, whether the General Civil Aviation Authority was considering similar restrictions on other aircraft types, or what airfreight companies would need to do to get the ban lifted. Further details will be published as soon as they are available.