Abu Dhabi: The UAE has welcomed the 39th COSPAS-SARSAT Joint Committee Meeting, marking the first time the event is hosted in the country. Cheryl Bertoia, Principal Operations Officer at COSPAS-SARSAT, expressed her gratitude to the UAE for hosting this significant meeting, which plays a crucial role in advancing and upgrading life-saving satellite and ground-based systems globally.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event, organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC), is scheduled from 27th May to 5th June 2025. It gathers more than 200 international experts to enhance global cooperation in satellite-based search and rescue efforts. The meeting sees participation from over 45 countries and major international organisations including ICAO, IMO, and ITU.
The UAE, through the COSPAS-SARSAT programme, is actively involved in building strategic partnerships and sharing expertise to support global humanitarian and life-saving missions. Bertoia discussed the committee's focus on integrating the MEOSAR satellite system, which enhances navigation systems like GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou, into COSPAS-SARSAT operations. Plans to introduce two-way communication with distress beacons, enabling users to exchange signals with rescue coordination centres, were also highlighted.
Bertoia commended the UAE's support, noting that the country's facilities are enabling an efficient and productive meeting. She mentioned the UAE's proposal to incorporate AI in search and rescue efforts, expressing interest in learning more and potentially integrating these technologies into COSPAS-SARSAT's operations.
The meeting is expected to produce significant outcomes that will enhance international coordination and improve technological capabilities in emergency response.