…Guyana makes big leap in international aviation rankings

By Zena Henry
THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has received favourable results following a grueling week of auditing by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is now 64.66 percent compliant with global aviation standards.

Attaining 64.66 percent is a major jump from the 44.24 percentage score the country held since 2007. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field, who assumed the position of Director General some four months ago, the GCAA was able to improve its ICAO ratings in several important areas of functioning.

Fields told the Guyana Chronicle that according to preliminary results by the ICAO auditors, the GCAA was able to increase Guyana’s position above the regional average to attain a more than 60 percent rating. Guyana’s international score as it relates to aviation legislation stood at 60.87 percent but has risen to 73.91 percent. The Authority’s organisation stood at 20 percent, but was increased to 50percent. Personnel licensing or qualification was at 70.73 percent, but rose to 95.06percent. Operation stood at 57.14percent, but rose to 74.36percent. Air navigation services rose to 53.65percent from a low of 10.32percent, while the aerodrome rating was at 43.57 percent, it rose to 68.57. As it relates to accident and incident investigation, this is being audited virtually. The audit of this department is expected to add more points to the new ICAO score. “We could see an increase from this area go to the late 60percent (marker),” Field stated.

Guyana’s new ICAO score takes the country closer to attaining Category One Status which will enable it to have easier aviation access to the United States and boost its global image. For a number of years Guyana has faced challenges without the Category One Status which would allow flights originating from Guyana to fly non-stop to the US. Though a lucrative market, passengers moving between the US and Guyana have faced high ticket prices, poor service by foreign carriers and have been duped out of their money by charter services claiming to be airlines.

Fieldssaid the improved score, “…means we are not there as yet… but we are moving in the right direction, slowly progressing to full compliance.”

He said that Guyana must also be happy about having no significant safety concerns. He pointed out that when safety concerns are found during audits, it is published and later pose problems for air traffic into the country since other ports take note of the concerns. Field noted however, that favourable international scores are within the 70 to 80 percent bracket, and while Guyana is working toward further improvement, “this shows the commitment to comply with international standards and this is what the Authority is most happy about.” He said it was a “team effort,” that his staff had worked long hours and “beyond the call of duty to prepare for the audit. They must be congratulated for a successful audit.”

Robust oversight system
The Director General is however adamant about improving the Authority’s pool of qualified, trained inspectors. He said, “Guyana must continue to build robust oversight systems and in order to do this, we need the inspectors fully prepared and qualified.”

Fields added that more focus has to be placed on implementation of policies and procedures documented in manuals and other relevant documents used in the oversight of the entire industry. “But to utilise that we must have qualified, trained inspectors.”

The aviation head said that the GCAA will be embarking on hiring qualified, fully trained inspectors. In 90 days the Authority will receive a draft report of the audit. They will have 45 days to respond or comment on any area of the draft. Thirty days after any comment is given, publication of a final report will be done. Chief auditor from the ICAO, South American branch, Marcello Urena said that the “GCAA is moving in the right direction for full compliance with the ICAO.”
Urena was accompanied by two other auditors; Fabio Salvstierra and Reberto Sosa. Their presence fell under the ICAO’S Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme, continuous monitoring approach, a measure of the ICAO in ensuring international best practice in aviation.