–GCAA Director General

SINCE the discovery of oil and gas here in May 2015 interest in the economy has grown and this has brought along with it an influx of large helicopters, a development which is stretching the capacity of oversight body, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

At the moment the issue of assistance to small states such as Guyana in addressing oversight of the helicopter sector is being brought to the attention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Director General of the GCAA, Retired Lieutenant-Colonel , Egbert Field told the Guyana Chronicle from Montreal, Canada, last week. Field is attending the ICAO’s 40th General Assembly.

He told this publication that Guyana is submitting working papers on the aviation environment here and also on helicopter assistance for small nations.“We hope that it would gain support,” he said , but he cautioned that in such arenas, it takes not only “connections” but also time to move the process forward.

Noting that Guyana is “sowing the seed” at the moment regarding its submissions, Field said that for small states where there is an influx of large helicopters, but limited inspectors, “we are looking at how other states can assist with helicopter support.”This includes the provision of inspectors and other particulars such as financing. “We are looking at that area and the paper is dealing with how this can be realised,” he said.

A number of companies have been utlising helicopters as a quick means of transport to oversee various large-scale operations .These include American oil giant ExxonMobil, which has hired Texas-headquartered company, Bristow, to carry out air support services between its operations onshore and offshore Guyana.

Some three years ago, the country had only about two large helicopters, Field noted; however, according to him, because of oil and gas exploration ongoing in the Atlantic, there are about 12 helicopters in operation here.”It is all driven by the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Field said the GCAA is “stretched,” adding that the authority would have to now prioritise its operations in dealing with all aspects of aviation. He highlighted that in the field of aviation, ”experienced individuals” are needed to conduct oversight.
At the moment the GCAA can rely on the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Oversight System (CASSOS) for assistance, he said. Last November, ICAO President Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu visited Guyana to participate in the world aviation body’s air transport meeting /third African diaspora meeting. The GCAA said that the meeting was successfully hosted and

Field noted last week that the visit was significant for the country.
During his stay in Guyana, the ICAO Council President also held discussions with ministers of CARICOM states on ways to enhance the level of safety and security oversight among member states, air navigation efficiency and capacity.