Airspace is the invisible pillar of every nation’s transport infrastructure and is a fundamental cornerstone for economies seeking growth. For the UAE, which boasts one of the world’s highest aviation growth rates, investment in airspace management is very importance. Dubai International Airport is leading the world in the number of international passengers, with overall passenger traffic exceeding 78 million people in the same period.

There is a demand for airspace management all over the world, and if that demand is not met, the industry could see a loss of $2 to $3 billion dollars! Airspace management offers a stable career, with attractive salaries, benefits and more. Although statistics and various studies have shown airspace management to be one of the more stressful careers to manage, it can also be very fulfilling.

Insufficient air traffic controllers, researchers and the like could result in a stall in the airspace management industry. This stall could potentially cost the industry billion of dollars of loss in economic growth. Aviation-led economic development would be the key solution. Partnerships with private sectors and the military could create the necessary programs to achieve steps in the right direction. With nationalisation rates as low as 20% in some countries, it is crucial that any air traffic management strategy includes comprehensive training programmes for nationals to ensure that they are able to fill the positions that are key to their nation’s strategies for economic growth and diversification.

Sources:
http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/airspace-management-is-key-to-arabian-gulf-economy
http://www.emirates.com/english/plan_book/dubai_international_airport/dubai_international_airport.aspx