There is a dire need for more air traffic controllers in Guyana, according to Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field.
Field highlighted the situation at the signing of the contracts for eight Aeronautical Information Service Officers and Air Traffic Control Officers to commence training in Jamaica, while emphasising the need to train more personnel.
Field said that the students, who are slated to depart Guyana on September 3, will spend 14 weeks at the Civil Aviation Authority Training School and will return to work under senior instructors. “This training is the initial phase before becoming Air Traffic Controllers,” Field said.
Chaitrani Heeralall, the acting GCAA Director, told the group that in the near future Guyana’s own training school will be certified and so there will be no need to go overseas for air traffic control training. Field added that the students could very well be the last group going to Jamaica for training of this nature. He also noted that they are working to having the programmes for the local school approved and have the school certified.
Field, in a charge to the students, admonished them to work hard and to focus on their studies, while adding that he will be checking in with them from time to time.
Field, in an invited comment to the media, said that the cost to send a student to the school in Jamaica is $4,100,000.
The students, who said that they were elated to start this new venture in their lives, were present to sign their contracts with guarantors.
