OMAN Air Sponsors the Gulf Flight Safety Committee AGM

OMAN Air Sponsors the Gulf Flight Safety Committee AGM

OMAN Air

Oman Air hosts the Gulf Flight Safety Committee on 10 June, sponsored by Oman Air, NEXUS Flight Operations Services and MedAire/International SOS.  The Gulf Flight Safety Committee (GFSC) was originally founded in Oman in 2004 by a group of Gulf based Safety Professionals from various aviation companies located within the GCC region.  This group is made up of over 250 members representing 80+ organizations within the region.  The group meets quarterly to promote safety improvement initiatives, including coordination with international organizations and bodies such as ICAO and IATA.

New elections during the GFSC Annual General Meeting held here in Muscat resulted in the following Executive Board; Chairman, Capt. Mohammed A. Malatani, Co-Chairman, Capt. William Mermelstein and Secretary/Treasurer Capt. Mark Trotter. “We are very pleased to have the support of Oman Air and the city of Muscat to host our Annual General meeting, and participation by the Royal Air Force of Oman and the Police Air Wing” says newly elected Chairman Capt. Malatani.  As a result of this annual meeting the membership agreed to a slight name change as the Gulf Flight Safety Council to better reflect the mission and goals.

                                              

Capt. Malatani also extended his thanks to Janab Al Sayyid Capt. Manin Al-Said, General Manager Quality & Safety of Oman Air for their hospitality in hosting the GFSC in Muscat, Oman.

The meeting comes one day before another important regional safety event.  The International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transportation Association (CAO/IATA) events come as an initiative under the Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-MID) to enhance safety in the Middle East. The purpose of Safety Management Workshop is to; share best practices and lessons learned for Safety Management Systems (SMS) and State Safety Programs (SSP); provide break-out sessions for sharing of safety data and SMS/SSP implementation; and promote safety data tools and enhance safety culture.

“The Gulf Flight Safety Council is pleased to partner with ICAO & IATA in our mutual goals of promoting safety in the region” added Capt. Mohammed Malatani, General Manger Safety of Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) and the new chairman of the GFSC.

About Oman Air

Oman Air is the flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an Official 4 Star Airline (Skytrax 2011). Founded in 1993, the airline has since witnessed massive growth and has played a major role in making Muscat an important traffic hub in the Middle East, supporting the commercial, industrial and tourism sectors.

The airline currently operates direct international flights from Muscat to Gulf destinations, such as Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Tehran and Kuwait, as well as Cairo, Beirut and Amman within the wider Middle East region.

In addition, Oman Air flies to ten destinations in India (Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Jaipur), Chittagong in Bangladesh, Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan, Kathmandu in Nepal and Colombo in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Oman Air flies to the Maldives, Bangkok in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and operates services to Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Its European destinations are London, Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.

Oman Air has also codeshare partnerships with Emirates Airlines giving travellers better connectivity and an extended range of services between Dubai and Muscat as well as with Qatar Airways allowing Oman Air’s customers to book flights from any of the 42 departure points within its network to Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Oman Air’s fleet currently consists of four Airbus A330-200s, three Airbus A330-300s, 17 Boeing 737-700s/800s, four Embraer E175s and two ATR 42s. Oman Air will be taking delivery of 6 new Boeing 737s as of 2014, as well as 6 Boeing 787s Dreamliners, which are scheduled for delivery starting in 2015.

Oman Air’s outstanding aircraft interiors include its First Class Mini Suite, which provides each of the six First Class passengers with direct aisle access and converts to the longest lie-flat seat in the skies. The A330’s 20 award-winning Business Class seats each provide direct aisle access, ample storage space and the latest technological amenities. Economy Class seats offer adjustable head and leg rests, together with surprising amounts of leg and elbow room.

A state of the art in-flight entertainment system features individual seatback screens, audio and video on demand and live satellite TV. In addition, Oman Air has pioneered both mobile telephony and Internet connectivity on board its flights and this is available in all three classes. 

Superb new First and Business Class lounges have been opened at Muscat International Airport, featuring elegant and tranquil relaxation areas, complimentary spa treatments and à la carte dining. A lounge-to-aircraft limousine service has also been launched for First Class passengers at Muscat.

Oman Air’s commitment to quality, comfort and a seamless passenger experience has resulted in international acclaim, including: Best Business Class Seat in the World (World Airline Awards 2012); Best Business Class Seat in the World and Service Excellence, Middle East (World Airline Awards 2011); Best Luxury Airline, Middle East (Business Destinations Awards 2011); Technological Innovation of the Year (Aviation Business Awards 2010); as well recognition in the TravelPlus Amenity Bag Awards 2010 (three Gold, one Silver), the Cellars in the Sky Awards 2010 (Silver), the KLIA Awards 2011, the 2009 Vision Awards (one Silver, one Bronze) and the Travel Industry Club Awards 2010 (Silver), TTG Travel Award 2011 as Commended Airline of the Year, Best In-flight Connectivity & Communications award in The 2011 Passenger Choice Awards in Seattle USA, The Airline of the Year Award at France's Lauriers d'Or du Voyage d'Affaires, Top Resa 2011 in addition to the Best First Class Female Amenity Bag and the Best Business Class Unisex Amenity Bag at the TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards 2011. Oman Air was awarded The Best Business Class Airline, Middle East at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012.