International Civil Aviation to acknowledge industry’s modern influence

On 7 December, countries around the world celebrate International Civil Aviation Day to acknowledge the aviation and aerospace industry’s influence on modern life. International Civil Aviation Day’s purpose, as per its United Nations founders, is to help generate and reinforce global awareness of the importance of international civil aviation socially and economically. For the past few years, International Civil Aviation Day has embraced the theme ‘Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development’.

In line with this concept, the precision engineers that make the technical and precise fundamentals of aircraft machining possible, apply themselves with ardent dedication. Those precision engineering companies that work toward adopting regulations and innnovative practices for the aviation industry are key supporters of aviation development in the GCC and beyond. Operating as the backbone of aircraft design and manufacturing, precision engineers ensure aircraft have the precise pieces and parts, to support aviation infrastructure, and to propel the industry forward.

According to research by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the global Air Transport sector supports 65.5 million jobs and USD 2.7 trillion in global economic activity, with over 10 million women and men working within the industry to ensure 120,000 flights and 12 million passengers a day are carried safely to their destinations. The wider supply chain, flow-on impacts, and jobs in tourism made possible by air transport show that at least 65.5 million jobs and 3.6 per cent of global economic activity are supported by the aviation industry.

Today, the United Arab Emirates is one of two key aviation markets in the GCC region that together constitute approximately 73 percent of the total fleet size of the GCC aviation sector. This means the aerospace sector not only affects international connectivity and continual advancement, but our shared economy and the individuals and experts who support the industry within the region and beyond – an industry that would not succeed without the efforts and expertise of precision engineers.

Precision manufacturing engineering is a detailed and extremely technical practice. It requires advanced study, quick thinking, and shrewd problem solving that lead to innovative solutions. An aerospace precision engineer must be efficient, and work quickly without sacrificing quality.

Precision engineers work to design machining processes, manufacture, treat and assemble aircraft parts and components. The process involves countless pieces and processes, all of which need careful planning and construction. They are found in every part of the aviation industry, developing aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and satellites. But beyond broad-spectrum aircraft assembly, precision engineers bring a level of specialised craft to the aviation industry, key to its success and continued globalisation.

The aerospace sector as we know it today would not exist without outsourced precision engineering services and components. Precision engineering ensures a long running life, as well as less wear or fatigue, offering better lifespan. Having a longer running life reduces costs and results in lower running costs overall. The entire production is therefore faster.

Considering the quantity and diversity of aircraft, spacecraft, satellite and helicopter components, aerospace engineering relies heavily on outsourced parts. The process is complex, as each individual part or component must be custom designed, machined and manufactured to fit into the complete aircraft layout. Precision engineering combines technical excellence with innovative processes.

Precision manufacturing engineering plays a pivotal role in the aerospace sector, as aircraft require stringent quality controls. Aircraft rely on tiny parts that require advanced technology to function correctly and safely, pieces which precision engineers can effectively machine. Within industries such as aerospace and defence, components must be produced reliably, on time and to extremely accurate specifications. Ensuring safety and high production standards at all stages of the process is paramount.

Aerospace companies work diligently to meet these requirements, as aircraft must be produced as quickly as possible while maintaining all specifications and needs of the client. Every precision engineering organisation hires specialist engineers and equipment to ensure the best possible interlocking, modular designs.

As aircraft manufacturers need parts to come back on time and to specification, they rely on the precision engineers who are prepared to invest in the latest innovative machinery and technical knowledge for machining and inspection. This practice allows for achieving consistently high quality across the entire production chain, keeping aircraft in the sky and the industry on track for new developments and discoveries.

Aviation precision engineering has allowed us to traverse the skies, connecting our world in previously unimaginable ways. The precision engineering sector allows for a truly global rapid transit network at the service of the UAE and beyond. On International Civil Aviation Day, a day we pause to appreciate our current capabilities, we also look to the future and continue to innovate, bringing multicultural infrastructure closer together.