GCAA's ‘Love Your Sky' campaignreaches new heights

Inaugural ‘UAE Aviation Art’ campaign generates great buzz on Instagram

15 November2014: The General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) first-of-kind digital campaign has reached new heightsover the past month with help from artistically-inclined aviation enthusiasts across the region.

The ‘UAE Aviation Art’ Instagram campaign has received more than 800 submissions across one month and is one of several activities that the GCAA is implementingas part of its Love Your Sky initiative to raise awareness about passenger safety in the UAE. 

HE Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said: “With incredible growth being achieved by the UAE aviation industry,and subsequent increased activity in our airspace, we see a greater need for flight and passenger safety in the UAE.  This begins on the ground with passengers.  Our ‘Love Your Sky’ consumer campaign raises awareness about the potential risks associated with air travel and preventative measures to limit those risks.  In our journey to become one of the largest aviation hubs in the world, digital platforms in the UAE are important channels for us to engage with consumers.  We’ve been delighted with the response from the community so far.”

Laila Hareb, Assistant Director, Strategies and International Affairs, GCAA, said: “We are finding new ways of engaging with the general public on social media.  Our awareness-raising campaign leverages our fans’ own personal networks and enthusiasm to reach more people andcommunicate better with them.

“The success of ‘UAE Aviation Art’ highlights how organisations and government entities can enhance their conversations with their networks by engaging them on a platform that is more personal, human and emotive.  Instagram is the latest platform where we are rolling out campaign activity, but we are only at the cusp of what we envision for digital communication as an organisation.”

Submissions were made under the hashtag #UAEaviationart from people of all ages and backgrounds for the inaugural competition.  A shortlisted selection of the top 20 entries will now be critiqued by a panel of judges in order to win a place at an upcoming Aviation Art exhibition and the chance to win a pair of anywhere-in-the-world tickets, courtesy of Etihad Airways.