HISTORY was created last Saturday when in 25 years, the first time a President of Guyana visited the Control Tower at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

President Donald Ramotar on a visit to commission the new Air Navigation System at the Control Tower was given a full tour and demonstration of the tower’s operations by civil aviation officials and the Rescue Operation Centre.
During the visit he was introduced to two of the only three female flight operators at the tower Ms. Lolita Fernandez and Ms. Peola De Silva as he chatted briefly seeking their challenges in the field and work at the tower.
The President inquired if the new equipment at the control tower is comparable to other control towers in the Caribbean and afar. Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Mohammed Zulpihkar in response explained that the technology is modern and is on par with international standards with more updated equipment to be acquired to complete the upgrading process.

The President before commissioning the Air Navigation System was given a brief overview of the operations and capabilities of the modernised technology installed at the tower.
The tower houses the air traffic control operations for the airspace in Guyana where all incoming and outgoing flights are being monitored and all flights within the local airspace and interior locations.
It has four main sections being the Rescue Coordination Centre, Area Control Centre, Arrivals & Departure and the Flight Information Center.
The Rescue Coordinator Centre which deals with first response to aircraft and vessels missing within the local air and water way coordinates all activities regarding last location and estimated destination so as to have information to begin a search and rescue operation.
This Cente is normally managed by a special committee which is alerted and responds to any such activity to coordinate the search and rescue team all the necessary information for the success of operation.
The Area Control Centre deals with air traffic control services for aircrafts in the upper air space of Guyana which is 25,000 feet and above and aircrafts 30 miles out of the city of Georgetown and 75 miles within the airspace.
The Arrivals and Departure Centre which is situated at the top of the control tower manages all flights arriving and departing the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Ogle Regional Airport in all international and local internal flights.
The Flight Information Centre controls all flights within 75 miles of the lower airspace and 25,000 feet and over in the upper airspace.
The flight details and destination of all in regards to their control is managed in this department.