The UAE is hosting the 39th COSPAS-SARSAT Joint Committee Meeting in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the country has held this important event. Cheryl Bertoia, the Principal Operations Officer at COSPAS-SARSAT, expressed her gratitude to the UAE for its role in facilitating this significant gathering.

The primary goal of the meeting is to enhance global cooperation in satellite-based search and rescue efforts, attracting participation from over 45 countries and major international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Bertoia emphasized the meeting’s role in advancing and upgrading life-saving satellite and ground-based systems worldwide.

During the discussions, the committee will focus on integrating the MEOSAR satellite system, which supports navigation systems such as GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou, into COSPAS-SARSAT operations. Additionally, plans to introduce two-way communication with distress beacons will allow users to exchange signals with rescue coordination centers. Bertoia highlighted the UAE’s support, noting that the country’s facilities are contributing to an efficient and productive meeting aimed at advancing life-saving technologies.

She also mentioned the UAE’s proposal to incorporate artificial intelligence in search and rescue efforts, expressing the organization’s interest in exploring these technologies for potential integration into COSPAS-SARSAT operations. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to significantly enhance international coordination and support technological capabilities in emergency response.