GUYANA’S domestic airlift capacity was significantly boosted in the past year, with local operators expanding their fleet by 17 aircraft; and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) will continue to work towards achieving Category One rating under the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme.

This was reported by GCAA Director General, Zulficar Mohamed, who, in providing a performance review of the entity this past week, detailed the additions to the domestic aviation sector.

“During the year, several domestic operators were granted permission to expand their capacity with additional aircraft, which totalled to 17,” Mohamed said.
These, he said, include two aircraft and one helicopter for Air Services Ltd; three aircraft, one of which is a Beechcraft 1900 D for Trans Guyana Airways; five aircraft, inclusive of one Beech King Air 350, one DHC6-300 Twin Otter, and a Challenger 601 for Jags Aviation Inc.; and three aircraft for Domestic Airways Inc.

According to Mohamed, in 2014, two new aerodromes were also licensed; the licenses for six private domestic aerodromes were renewed, as well as those for the 57 owned by Government.
In addition, three operators were issued with Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), namely: Hinterland Aviation Inc., Domestic Airways, and Golden Arrow Airways.

Regarding GCAA’s operations in the coming year, Mohamed reported that the GCAA would continue to improve and develop aeronautical surveillance using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast System (ADS-B).

“The development and expansion of ADS-B will increase efficiency and capacity of Guyana’s airspace to accommodate a larger volume of traffic/aircraft operations in the airspace and to track aircraft movement in real time,” Mohamed disclosed.

He said as well that the GCAA would continue the review, and look to develop appropriate safety and security legislation and policies to enhance the Authority’s oversight and enforcement capability.

Mohamed also observed that, during the course of 2015, GCAA will be reviewing the organisation’s structure along with a planned increase of staffing to enhance the oversight functions of the Authority.

He said that, this year, GCAA also plans to acquire new Air Traffic Control Simulator for training of Air Traffic Controllers in Guyana.

In his performance review of GCAA for 2014, Mohamed used the opportunity to point out that Guyana attended the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event in Bali, Indonesia as recent as November, met with representatives from 13 countries across the world, and held talks with them.
He reported that the confab led to 12 Air Services Agreements being inked with those countries.

The GCAA Director reported that while many countries across the world have expressed an interest in operating in Guyana, “we have to ensure that we have the facilities to accommodate them when they’re ready to come…what we are doing here is that we are laying the groundwork for that.”

With the Agreements in place, he said, the way is paved for those countries to begin operating flights into Guyana when the CJIA expansion project is completed.
Mohamed said Guyana entered into agreements with China, Kenya, Curaçao (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Singapore, Ghana, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland, Qatar, Canada and Nigeria.

(By Gary Eleazar)