By Wendella Davidson

AVIATION in the next 50 years is expected to expand significantly with an increase in air traffic and would require more personel to serve the blooming industry. However, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), youth interest in aviation is a mere 14 per cent.

Against this backdrop, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Friday launched NexGen, a programme that seeks to attract youths to the sector.
The event was held at the Umana Yana and was attended by Minister of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Annette Ferguson; GCAA Director-General, Lt Col (ret’d) Egbert Field and students from a number of secondary schools.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Patterson said many people depend on air-links for their daily survival and aviation contributes 3.5 per cent to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Also, over the years, there has been a significant development in the local aviation sector with the growth in passenger travels continuing to increase.
But according to the minister, the present batch of aviation personnel will not be fully able to serve the future goals of this sector; as such, there is a growing need for air traffic controllers and aircraft engineers.

The oil and gas sector also needs the support of the aviation sector, he added.
On the local front, there is the presence of American Airlines; JetBlue is expected to begin service here next year; Copa Airlines is increasing its frequency of flights to Guyana; the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has been expanded and the Eugene F Correia Airport is looking to expand. The GCAA also recently turned the sod for construction of a new headquarters.

The GCAA director-general, who at age 17 was among 12 persons whom the Government of Guyana had granted scholarships to pursue studies to become pilots, said that with the doubling of aviation, there will be need for close to 500, 000 pilots, engineers and other personnel in the aviation industry.

According to Field, the ICAO had launched a NexGen programme a couple of years ago and Friday’s launch indicates that Guyana is now embracing the initiative by launching its own programme.

“Today is about you, the students, the future aviators, the future engineers, the future flight attendants, the future pilots, the aviation financials and everything that goes in the aviation industry,” Field told the students.
He reminded the students that no matter who they are, where they came from and what they do, they can achieve their dreams and likened the launch of NexGen as “an opportunity” for them to do so.

Field also Thanked Ministers Patterson, Jaipaul Sharma and Ferguson (who formerly was attached to the MoPI), along with the GCAA board of directors for their continued support to the aviation sector.

Meanwhile, included in the strategic approach of the NexGen initiative to address the emerging aviation growth in Guyana are a number of engaging programmes, which have been developed from the data collected.
These are intended to address the needs of the local and international aviation committees and are geared at retaining sufficient competent personnel to sustain the air transportation system.

The programmes include a Group ‘C,’ which is a Galactic Expo for students aged two to 12 years billed for November. The children will have an opportunity to be part of aviation for a full day under a Star Wars theme that will consist of simulators, robots, star wars, costumes and aeroplane craft competitions, among others.

A Regional Aviation High Flyers Club comprises Group ‘B,’ which targets children aged 12 to 18 years. There will be subscriptions to a quarterly newsletter, work-study placement during the summer and internship and mentor programmes, especially for disadvantaged youth and girls.

In Group `A’, which comprises students 18-25 years, there will be an Aviation Open House of technical institutes and universities gathering of students where they can meet with practitioners and others in the industry to learn more about aviation and job prospects.
The launch, chaired by Saheed Sulaman, GCAA Director of Air Transport Management, also featured an address by Lolita Fernandes, an air traffic controller and steel pan music by students of the Dolphin Secondary School.