Over 30 persons were yesterday awarded certificates for successfully completing four training courses offered by the Guyana Civil Aviation Training School.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown.
Trainer Clifford VonDoimen informed that the graduates successfully completed four programmes: Aerodrome Control, Approach Control, Aerial Control, and skill enhancement for the provision of ADSB surveillance in the lower airspace training courses.
He explained that the objective of these courses was to provide the participants with the specific knowledge needed to assist them during their on-the-job training to enable them to achieve the required level of expertise to obtain licences in each area. The Aerodrome Control training, he pointed out, was conducted between October 9, 2020 and March 5, 2021. Nine persons completed the necessary training at the entry level which covers aeronautical information services.
The trainer noted that six of these persons are undergoing on-the-job training at the Ogle Control Tower while the remaining three were selected to participate in the Approach Control training and this was done between March 15, 2021 and July 22, 2021. This course officially started with nine persons but one person requested to leave the programme and so only eight persons graduated from this course.
The graduates of this programme are currently undergoing training at the Timehri Approach Control Tower. VonDoimen explained that only those persons who have completed the aerodrome and approach courses were eligible to participate in the Aerial Control course and once they have completed their on-the-job-training, they would be able get their licences. This course ran from November 6, 2020 to February 12, 2021.
Regarding the skill enhancement programme for the provision of ADBS surveillance in the lower Georgetown airspace, VonDoimen said that the training programme is a process leading up to the implementation of this service in the lower airspace. He said that the programme allowed for those who completed the aerial control to practice and refine their skills. He disclosed that 29 Aerial Control students took part in the course which ran from July 15 to August 20, 2021.
He disclosed that these persons are now taking part in the next phase of the programme which is currently ongoing and should commence by September 9, 2021. After they have completed this course, he said, then lower airspace service will be implemented.
There were 100% passes in all of the training courses.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, who was at the ceremony, congratulated the graduates and praised their high performances. He remarked that while air traffic surveillance services using ADSB is available for the upper airspace, this is not so for the lower airspace and once the training courses are completed, then this service will be expanded to the lower airspace.
He added that this would enhance search and rescue responses which has always been inhibited by the lack of ADSB in the past.
“The Government is committed to building a strong and vibrant aviation sector that is safe and reliable. I want to thank the [Guyana Civil Aviation and Authority] industry in their support for this project. There are over 20 air traffic controllers who have completed skill enhancement training using ADSB to expand and extend to the domestic operator. I am also pleased to recognize the 20 graduates who completed the aerodrome courses. Guyana is one of the world leaders when it comes to aviation, aviation safety and air navigation services and this achievement is symbolic of the government investment and for its continual growth and expansion,” Edghill was quoted as saying.
