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Govt. grants approval for private helicopter operations
Government in 2012 gave approval for private aircraft operators to include helicopters to their fleet of operations thereby removing the monopoly held by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) over the years in this regard.
This move has since seen Air Services Limited, which has been in operation for over 50 years, taking advantage of the endorsement. It has since acquired a helicopter and has commenced an expanded operation.
GCAA Director General, Zulficar Mohamed
The company’s website states that the operation is facilitated by a fleet of 23 aircraft of six different types and one helicopter which are flown by a flight of 24 experienced pilots. “We provide a safe, efficient and reliable service on our domestic schedule and charter service to all of Guyana’s interior destinations,” the website http://www.aslgy.com/ boasts.
A formal announcement of the development was made on Friday by Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mr Zulficar Mohamed, during a Public Works Ministry press conference.
He disclosed that a few other operators have since stated their interest in assuming similar operations. “Quite a few others, especially in the mining industry, are trying to acquire helicopters for private use,” said Mohamed.
The move by Air Services, he said, represents an inaugural undertaking by a private operator to offer commercial helicopter operations. The GDF has been engaged in such commercial operations for several years now.
Turning his attention to the wider aviation operation, Mohamed said that there has been an increase in aircraft operations in the country over the past year. He said that a number of operators have sought to increase their fleet too.
“The exact number is eight aircraft that have been added to the fleet in Guyana…” said Mohamed who informed that GCAA had during the past year too issued a new air craft operator’s certificate thereby granting approval to another operator to undertake commercial operations.
Additionally, he disclosed that approval was granted for another aircraft maintenance organisation. A new fuel farm was licensed to commence operation at Ogle. He related too that a number of pilots and engineers as well as air traffic controllers were licensed last year.
However, Mohamed said that Guyana has been plagued by a shortage of staff, especially in the area of flight operations. “We have not been able to attract that calibre of persons necessary to perform such functions.”
With assistance from the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) “we have been able to carry out our mandate not quite fully but at least we have been able to accomplish about 80 per cent of it…”
The Aviation Chief said that efforts are still being made to attract suitably qualified persons to fill the flight operations void that currently exists.
The Air Services Ltd helicopter
Despite this shortcoming, Mohamed said that in the area of Air Navigation Services, over the past year, GCAA was able to complete installation of all of its navigation and communications equipment. This undertaking which comes as part of a Modernisation Project was in fact one that started in 2010 and was continued in 2011 with a completion date in early last year.
According to Mohamed, Government has since provided additional funding which now sees GCAA in a position to acquire high frequency communication and security equipment and VHF Omnidirectional Ranger (VOR) for the Control Tower at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Mohamed disclosed that the VOR currently at CJIA will be refurbished and placed at the Ogle International Airport. “These are all ongoing projects and for 2013 we are hoping for the commitment, and we have had that commitment, that we will continue the process. We will acquire surveillance equipment which will assist not only in air traffic control but we will be able to track aircrafts anywhere in the country,” said Mohamed.
There are also plans for the acquisition of new equipment which will allow for data sharing throughout the flight routes in the entire Caribbean and South American Region which is a part of an international network, Mohamed added. Funding for this undertaking has already been provided and it is expected that installation will commence during the course of this year.
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