UNFAIR competition at the Eugene F. Correria Airport, aerodrome congestion, accident and incident investigations and search and rescue coordination were among a number of issues discussed when new Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field met with members of the National Air Transport Association (NATA) last week.Field told the Guyana Chronicle that the body reiterated their concerns about congestion at the former Ogle Airport and sought the intervention of the Authority to ensure the smooth functioning of the airdrome. NATA, a break from the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG) requested a review of the procedures in a bid to improve easy movement at the facility.

Operators at the Ogle location had noted that while the majority of operators are forced to use one taxi way, another company operating at the facility has the unfair advantage of it alone having its own taxi facility. This, inconvenience operators say, has been causing them to lose money and valuable time having to wait on the taxi ways because of the procedure that is currently available.

NATA is very interested in seeing a better accident and incident investigation unit, the Director General said. He explained that NATA is supportive of the GCAA having a separate unit for the investigation of aviation matters and to see the unit being more independent. Field had told the newspaper previously that moves are afoot to “delink” the unit from the GCAA. Like NATA, Field believes that GCAA’s continued connection with the accident unit is a conflict of interest matter. He noted also that having an independent investigation unit, is a matter that the international aviation body, ICAO insists on.

Search and rescue operations need to be better coordinated NATA believes. They suggested to the GCAA that the body consider training with international experts to better equip the designated teams that are sent out on rescue missions. The GCAA currently operates a Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC). This centre involves the efforts of the GCAA, the Guyana Defence Force, police and others that may be designated according to the requirements of a specific rescue operation.

NATA believes however that better mechanisms should be put in place to equip not only rescuers, but operators and other related personnel.

Hinterland airstrips also had the agency’s attention. Discussions were had about a report on the out of town facilities which according to Field, is currently with the Minister of infrastructure. Hinterland airstrips have been a burning concern for all operators traversing hinterland locations. The maintenance of these airstrips is sometimes done by operators as they conduct their business from these locations on a daily basis. A consistent programme for the management of the interior airstrips has been on the front burner for a long time.

NATA also spoke to the GCAA head about unfair competition at the former Ogle airport. The matter has been one of contention as operators continue to identify one operator as having privilege over others. They have spoken about the unfair distribution of land, the upkeep of the facility, and the right to input among other activities. NATA has invited the GCAA to tour the Eugene F. Correria Airport for a firsthand view of the functioning of the facility. GCAA is expected to take up the association on its offer.

Outside of this, discussions between NATA and the GCAA have revealed that the agency will be audited at the end of November. The GCAA has not been audited since 2007.