– International travels increase by 5.2%

PRIOR to the globally devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Guyana was on an upward trajectory as it relates to air travel, both domestic and international.
This was outlined by Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A, the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), in a message to observe International Civil Aviation Day on Monday, December 7, under the theme, “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”. Field specified that domestic air travel has recorded a significant 16 per cent increase, with some 224,881 passengers travelling within Guyana’s borders in 2019. “Domestic aviation is also critical to the growth and sustainability of several sectors including Oil and Gas, Mining, Forestry, Agriculture and Tourism,” Field noted. Similarly, for the same 2018-2019 COVID-free period, airlift of international passengers grew by 5.2 per cent, with 751, 000 passengers being transported in and out of Guyana. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been alive and well for approximately one year, has taken a substantial toll on the aviation industry.
“Aviation is now in a recovery mode,” Field said.

RECOVERY 

He added that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), through its Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) has provided “practical, aligned guidance to governments and industry operators in order to restart the international air transport sector and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 on a coordinated global basis.” Field explained that the GCAA has been used as the framework established by the ICAO’s CART to formulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Airports and Aircraft Operators. “These SOPs were Gazetted as the COVID-19 Emergency Regulations for Aviation in Guyana, to protect aviation stakeholders and the public from exposure to Covid-19,” Field noted in his message. He said that the GCAA has also developed and launched a website – Guyanatravel.gy, which provides updated information on travel requirements for passengers desirous of coming to Guyana, and an online form for all passengers to complete 24 hours before travel.

INNOVATIONS

He noted that the pandemic has highlighted the critical need for States and aviation stakeholders to embrace innovation as a means of connecting people and transporting passengers in a safe, secure, and efficient manner, all while steering clear of a deadly disease. “The need for paperless travel is greatest during this period of the pandemic and has highlighted the need for much investment in technological infrastructure,” Field posited. The Director General emphasized that the GCAA has, over the years, made notable strides in innovation, all of which are consistent with the aforementioned theme for this year’s Aviation Day observances. Some of the innovative projects include the establishment of “a modern Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, with remote ground Stations at Kaieteur, Annai, Port Kaituma, and Kamarang and the Central Station at Timehri, to monitor the movement of aircraft within our airspace; the establishment of a modern 3D flight simulator in the Civil Aviation Training School; the computerization of its Licensing and Examination system, as well as its transition from a paper booklet to plastic card licence for aviation personnel.

The agency was also successful in launching a Drones Unit to regulate the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles within Guyana’s airspaces. Meanwhile, Senior Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, in his message, said that the aviation sector is becoming increasingly attractive for investment opportunities with significant increases in new and potential market entrants “which are demanding premium facilities and other complementary services. Hence, to make these facilities available, government has committed to developing and expanding infrastructure such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to cater to increased flights, larger aircraft, and improved safety for departures, and landings and thereby opening opportunities to become a regional hub for air transport.”Edghill maintained that Guyana stands ready with its fellow 193 member States and ICAO to work towards Global Aviation Development.