The Aircraft Owners’ Association of Guyana has raised concerns over the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Board’s operations, saying it appeared to be confused about its role.
In a letter, dated March 10, 2022 and addressed to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, President of the Association Gerry Gouviea Jr also said that a decision by the Board not to renew the contract of the industry’s Head of the Safety Programme, Col. (Ret’d) Cargill Kyte, has resulted in significantly delayed authorisations.
By the way of the letter, which was leaked on social media, the Association sought a meeting with Edghill towards discuss the issues. However, when contacted yesterday, Minister Edghill said that he has not received a letter from the Aircraft Owners’ Association of Guyana and therefore could not comment on the contents therein. “I did not receive a letter from the Aircraft Owners’ Association and I have no comments about that. If the Aircraft Owners’ Association wants to engage me then they cannot do so by posting on Facebook,” the minister said before disconnecting the call.
However, Gouveia Jr told Stabroek News that the letter was sent last week and received by the Ministry but he could not say who received it. He also related that the letter is an internal one and refused to divulge any additional information.
In the letter, the Aircraft Owners’ Association President said the Association was writing to highlight its concern about what appears to be “an increasing confusion between the role of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Board with regard to its responsibility to direct the business of the Authority and to formulate policies under the directions of the Minister and the functions of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to regulate the operations of the Industry as defined in the Civil Aviation Act.”
It also emphasised the professional relationship between the Authority and the industry is symbiotic, intrinsic and crucial to their national aviation interest.
It was explained that the matter was being raised with Edghill since the Director General of the GCAA reports directly to the Minister, while the Board is subjected to his direction and they are hopeful that their concerns can be addressed.
“…the Board is subject to any general or special policy directives of the Minister which are not inconsistent with the functions of the Authority under the provisions of the Act and the Board is bound, under the Act, to follow those directives. We very much look forward to the opportunity to further discuss these matters with you at your convenience,” the letter stated.
The Association in particular cited the direction of the Aviation Industry’s Safety Programme, and Flight Operations, coupled with the experience and staffing of the GCAA.
“We have become aware of the fact that the contract of the Head of the Safety Programme, Col. (Ret’d) Cargill Kyte, who was the only Senior Avionics Engineer within the Authority, was not renewed contrary to the wishes of the Director General. Col. Kyte’s departure has left the Authority unable to certify Avionics Modifications and our membership have reported significantly delayed authorizations, particularly on matters of safety, affecting their operations,” Gouveia Jr noted in his letter.
He added that the absence of the technical ability of the GCAA to effectively provide oversight to the airworthiness of a rapidly growing industry, was of “considerable concern.” He also noted that the GCAA should be seeing to grow its regulatory capability not contracting.
“We are also aware of the need for the Authority to augment the current staff of Flight Operations and Airworthiness Inspectors, but we are not impressed by the shortlist of names we have seen. The ICAO Operations Manual (DOC 8835, Sections 6.2.4 and 6.2.5) effectively defines the requirements for Flight Operations and Airworthiness Inspectors and we urge that these are strictly adhered to through rigorous background checks of respective candidates before their employment.
“We cannot emphasize too strongly, that where the appointment of Flight Operations and Airworthiness Inspectors is concerned, these are not positions for learning on the job. An Inspector comes to the job with an extensive career of experience, already highly trained and highly experienced and, importantly, highly respected by Industry professionals in order to provide effective oversight,” he further wrote.
Gouveia Jr reminded that according to Guyana’s regulations of Flight Operations and Airworthiness, Inspectors must already have a sound working knowledge and experience of the country’s unique aviation environment, which was dubbed as one of the most hostile in the world.
GCAA recently appointed Captains Edgar Heyligar and Davendra Singh as Flight Operations Inspectors within the Aviation Safety and Security Directorate. Heyligar was appointed on March 7, 2022 while Singh took up his post from March 14.
The Aircraft Owners’ Association also expressed their confidence in the leadership of GCAA’s Director General Egbert Field describing him as “an exemplary example of the type of professional required in the regulation of the Industry and we, in our opinion, are extremely fortunate to have his services in Guyana.”
They also reminded that it was under Fields’ leadership that Guyana was taken from 44% International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliance to 75%. It noted that the increased compliance has allowed Guyana to be a global player in highly competitive and regulated aviation industry.
Guyana was also awarded the ICAO President’s Award in 2017 for its improvements.
