By Shauna Jemmott

AVIATION specialist and former Deputy Director of Civil Aviation Aubrey Alexander is calling on Government to revisit the hinterland airport development programme.Alexander also wants the regulations of aviation managers to be adopted in order for the sector to reach the standards and recommended practices in keeping with the annexes in the Chicago Convention.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, he said a Domestic Air Transport Study (DATS) and the Hinterland Airport Development Programme should be re-visited in terms of building hinterland aerodromes.
The aviation specialist is also recommending an extension of the Mabaruma Airstrip and development of those at Ebini, Apoteri, Karanambo, Lethem, Kato and Imbaimadai.
While constructing new airstrips were being done in areas that have become popular for gold and diamond mining, cattle movement and human population increase, Alexander said Government must now consider overall development in such constructions.
“Now, it’s more than that. What we’re looking at is the overall development of the country,” he said.
While maintenance of hinterland aerodromes should involve regular educational development, reservation of lands and expansions, the expert said Government should develop, monitor and operate aerodromes and have periodical inspections done.
He also said aviation staff must be trained to interpret, analyse and implement the standards and recommended practices which are contained in the annexes in the Chicago Convention.
“Medical personnel and coming pilots and air-patient personnel for grant of licences should be subjected to aviation medical courses every three to four years,” he said, with the cost borne by Government.
He has also recommended the Cranfield UK Aircraft Revised Accident Prevention course for aviation workers.
Alexander has also recommended that Government consider the development potential through oil exploration in expanding the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri, making provisions for major cargo-handling facilities.
He said the Government should consider that Guyana has great potential for a sudden boom in the oil industry and make the necessary preparations early.
“I do not know if enough provisions are being made for cargo-handling facilities. A lot of airlines count on cargo to supplement revenue base,” Alexander stressed.
Meanwhile, he said local students with interest in aviation should be taken on tours at the French airspace facility, to sensitise them about what lies beyond the stratosphere, and Guyana should also seek to build an observatory.
In addition, he said medical personnel who are examining pilots, aviation officers or client personnel for the granting and renewal of licences should be subjected to aviation medical courses every three or four years.
While “training is of utmost necessity,” such should be established to look at all facets relating to the aviation sector, he said.
Further, he said, the administration should implement more convenient travelling facilities throughout the country, adopting a “Freedom to move” policy which ensures cross-town movement of individuals from north to south, and not only east to west.
This policy should “galvanise all regions to have various modes of transportation”, he said, adding that the efficient public service transportation in Georgetown must include travel from Kitty to South Georgetown.
“You have to have proper people-movers for people of my age,” the senior citizen said.
He also said that walkways at airports should be complemented by golf carts to transport the aged to the steps of the aircraft.
Alexander is the only person who has served in every position within the Civil Aviation Department.
With his first job being Assistant Air Traffic Officer (ATO) to the Director, he moved to become Air Traffic Control Officer II (ATCO), Senior Air Traffic Control Officer (SATCO), Controller of Aerodrome Operations (CAO), Airport Manager (AM & SATCO) Aviation Inspector Aerodrome and Licensing, Deputy Director Civil Aviation (DDCA) and Director Civil Aviation (DCA), until his resignation some years ago.