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Emirates engg

gets EC

recognition

KARACHI: Emirates' engineering department has received formal recognition from the civil aviation authorities of the 23 European nations, for its high aircraft maintenance standards. This enables Emirates to undertake third party maintenance work for airlines of these countries.

The international airline of the UAE has been awarded the prestigious Maintenance Organisation Approval JAR 145 certificate by the European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA), which is formed by the various European civil aviation authorities.

H H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Emirates Group, was formally presented with the JAR 145 approval certificate from senior surveyor Terry Newman on behalf of the JAA, on July 26, in Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed said: "Emirates is honoured to receive the JAA's recognition for our engineering standards, and we hope that this will present more opportunities for cooperation among the various airlines. This recognition by the JAA is in line with Emirates' commitment to devlop Dubai as the centre of aviation excellence in the region".

Newman commented: "The JAA is extremely impressed by the high standards achieved within Emirates, and the calibre of the airline's engineering staff. I hope to see the close ties between Emirates and JAA maintained and developed to promote the very high standards of aviation safety that is so important".

The JAR 145 approval for Emirates came as a result of an imdependent, detailed survey by a JAA team, led by Newman, who conducted the necessary investigations of aircraft maintenance standards.

Emirates, which has been awarded similar recognition from other civil aviation authorities, currenlty conducts third party maintenance work for 29 airlines. The JAR 145 will eventually extend Emirates' Engineering list of third party contracts.

Joining Sheikh Ahmed and Newman at the JAR 145 certificate award ceremony were Maurice Flanagan, Group Managing Director, Mohammed Alkhaja, Operations Director, Iftikhar Mir, Senior General Manager Engineering and Abdelkader Tazerout, Quality Assurance Manager.