THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has received a timely boost in the form of a grant which will be utilised to enhance the abilities of professionals within its employ.
According to the GCAA on Saturday last, the NexGen Programme received support from the Ministry of the Presidency’s Youth Innovation Project of Guyana in the form of a grant, after submitting a proposal.

The NexGen Programme was initiated by the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to focus on the next generation of aviation professionals, especially since the global aviation industry is expected to double its growth in the next 10-12 years i.e. moving 6 billion passengers from its present level of approximately 4 billion passengers per annum.

GCAA said the increase will create an increased need for aviation professionals to sustain the growth of the industry. The vision of the NexGen Programme is to stimulate, inspire and sustain our future aviation industry by engaging and working with aviation stakeholders, educational institutions, attracting the next generation of aviation professionals, creating a platform of exchange between stakeholders and the youths and raising the level of interest in aviation.

According to the GCAA, the programme mirrors that of the NGAP (Next Generation of Aviation Professionals) initiative launched in 2009 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation which aims to ensure enough qualified and competent aviation professionals are available to operate, manage and maintain the future international air transport system.