FORMER Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Hugh Denbow has touted the need for Public/Private Partnerships (PPP) amid calls from local aviators for the government to do more for the sector.According to Denbow, it is not the responsibility of central government to develop and maintain hinterland airstrips.
“The government doesn’t have unlimited money… so the cries of those in the aviation sector will fall on a list of priorities… how far up on that list is another story,” he said in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle.
The former GCAA boss agrees that there is an urgent need for the rehabilitation of most of the hinterland airstrips, but said a different approach needs to be adopted.
“Most operators are calling for government to do more, they too need to do more…the government cannot be controlled by the private operators.”
In this regard, Denbow, who has been working in the field for more than 20 years, said “public-private partnerships are critical to the achievement of the many demands.”
He told this publication that he understands fully well the many challenges facing the aviation system, but noted that while those who have invested heavily in the sector need to see improvements, they too could be the change they want to see.

COLLABORATION
Only recently, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) Michael Correia Jnr., at the launching of the company’s Raytheon Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, called on the new administration to assist the sector with its many needs. He decried the former administration for what he deemed to be a lack of interest in the sector.
“I can say publicly that we asked for US$7.5M to be invested over a three-year period, at least, to put us back on track with the GAC (Guyana Airways Corporation) days.
Sadly, we were continuously ignored by our past minister. Instead, large sums of money have been allocated for politically-driven rather than development-driven priorities,” Correia stated.
Denbow said investing in more aircraft is good, but doing so with the same challenges may not be the best choice. He said many of the modern aircraft that are being bought to operate domestically will experience difficulties. He explained that many of the operators are calling for the airstrips to be paved, as unpaved airstrips can cause damage to some types of aircraft.
“The new types of aircraft are coming with a glass cockpit. A glass cockpit is an electronic flight instrument system that has digital displays…it is both expensive and sophisticated,” the former GCAA chairman said.
He explained that with unpaved airstrips, dust will affect the glass cockpit that “must be kept sterile at all times.” Glass cockpits are meant to be more efficient for pilots, but if dust is accumulated problems can arise.
GOVERNMENT AS FACILITATOR
“Most operators are calling for paved runways…they should help to pave the runways,” said Denbow. He argued that government plays the role of facilitator while the private operators can play a financial part.
Denbow explained, however, that he is by no means suggesting that private operators should be the sole spenders. He believes it is the responsibility of the government to assist in the development of hinterland airstrips, but stressed that “private operators can do more to work with the government to achieve desired results.”
That aside, the GCAA’s former chairman alluded to other challenges in the aviation sector. He pointed to safety issues at some runways where cattle are allowed to roam freely or houses are built too close to the airstrip. These, he said, are issues for the government to deal with as the presence of both persons and animals in close proximity to the airstrip could prove catastrophic.
“A house has been built just off a runway at Port Kaituma; I believe…this is dangerous…the minister needs to look into this,” he remarked.
Safety is critical in the aviation sector and Denbow believes that for far too long issues of safety have been placed on the back burner. He emphasised that issues of safety must be paramount at all times.

By Ariana Gordon