FORMER Flight Operations Inspector of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Fields is being considered for the post of Director General of the aviation umbrella body.Fields, who has several years of experience, has served as a pilot with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), an inspector with the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), Flight Operations and Oversight Manager of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority and Transnational Inspector for the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed through multiple sources that the post was offered to Fields, but it is unclear if he has accepted the offer.

After Zulficar Mohammed retired in May last year, several names were being considered to fill the position, including current Director General (acting) Chitrani Heeralall. Reports are that Heeralall may be re-assigned to another senior post within the GCAA.

This newspaper had reported in September that a new Director General for the GCAA would have been named in October, following the “reconfiguration and reintroduction” of the GCAA’s Board.

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson later clarified that only board members would be named and not a Director General by the October timeline.

The GCAA board, which is chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Larry London, was subsequently installed earlier this year.

Minister Ferguson had stated that one of the pressing issues facing the aviation body is the appointment of air traffic controllers, as submissions were made about the lack of appointments over the past eight years. The GCAA is also experiencing a shortage of controllers as several have moved to greener pastures overseas.