The UAE is accelerating a drive designed to ensure that all the country's helicopter landing sites become officially approved to international standards. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) estimates that there are more than 1,000 helicopter landing sites but reports that only a few of these have been approved as meeting ICAO standards.

The GCAA has assembled a team of 20 staff to inform and brief owners of sites as to helipad safety requirements and approvals. The initial focus is on assisting applications for sites set aside for emergency use, including hospital facilities, and others required for government purposes. But corporate sites will also be encouraged to achieve legal status as the GCAA aims to ensure it can regulate a fast-growing sector.

The GCAA believes a large demand for helicopter air taxi services will be generated through six international airports, other regional airports, and tourism including trips to islands off the UAE coast. However, the GCAA, says many sites could require significant work and investment to meet the requirements.

Operators planning to set up to meet such a demand include Cars Taxi which is looking at providing a fleet of 10 helicopters from 2009. The company's feasibility study includes an analysis of helipad availability. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai City of Aviation Corporation and Dubai World Central, says Dubai has seen a 30 per cent rise in executive flights over the last three years.