International Day of the Air Traffic Controller: Steady increase in flights requires more air traffic controllers – Min Edghill

The steady increase in aircraft moving within Guyana’s airspace will require additional human resource support in the form of air traffic controllers to manage these operations.

Taking this position on Thursday was Public Works Minister Juan Edghill as Guyana joined the international community in observing International Day of the Air Traffic Controller – a brainchild of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association (IFATCA).
“Here in Guyana, our Government is conscious of aviation’s importance to our economic development through the movement of goods and people. The aviation landscape continues to evolve and in this change process, the aviation sector is even more dynamic, thus presenting new opportunities and challenges. Guyana must be ready and equipped to respond to the sector’s challenges,” the Minister outlined.
At the Eugene F Correia International Airport, air traffic controllers service 135 landings and takeoffs daily. There are 22 off-shore flights and 11 landings and takeoffs at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, with 50 aircraft overflying Guyana’s airspace.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), through the Civil Aviation Training School (CATS,) has conducted six essential training programmes that benefited 56 air traffic controllers, among which were 17 being trained as Air Traffic Control Assistance and Aeronautical Information Management Officers.
Edghill continued in his statement, “Air traffic controllers must constantly adapt to continually evolving procedures, changing technical systems and social and environmental constraints.”
In Budget 2022, the Government allocated $2 billion to the aviation sector to enhance the air navigation of aircraft, upgraded the Instrument Landing System (ILS), and the Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system was introduced to help improve efficiency and create a safe air traffic control system.
“Individual controllers must provide safe aircraft navigation within the airspace. Air traffic controllers must maintain a safety culture to keep air travel the safest mode of transportation,” he asserted.
As he lauded the work of these professionals in the aviation sector, the Minister noted, “Let’s celebrate the individual air traffic controller who strives each minute to give the utmost service to the flying public, to bring them safely to their destination. As Minister with responsibility for the aviation sector in Guyana, I also recognise the efforts, salute the accomplishments and service dedication of all Guyanese air traffic controllers.”