“Late pilots, air navigational officers create accidents” – Edghill

…stresses importance of punctuality for all aviation personnel

Recognising the important role aviation personnel play in safeguarding the safety of the skies, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill revealed that pilots and air traffic officers should always be punctual. The minister made this comment during the launch of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Training School air traffic control assistance and aeronautical information training programme.
During his remarks to the students the minister noted that their field of work requires the highest levels of punctuality, as such he explained to students that pilots and air navigational officers who are late do not have the necessary time needed to ensure all safety measures and checks are in place which increases the possibility of accidents.
“My reading tells me pilots and air navigational officers who are late are the ones who create accidents because when you are late you have to cut corners to make up for time that is lost. The necessary checks, the necessary protocols are not in place when you are late. So, punctuality must become a lifestyle. If you’re going to stay you must be here on time before the work starts,” Edghill stated.

Moreover, the minister reveled that to further enhance safety in the skies the government has been working assiduously to acquire new technologies that will enhance sky surveillance as well as equipment that will allow air traffic controllers to undergo more robust training.
“But there have been a number of things that we’ve been doing as a government. There has been an upgrade of the air traffic management system at Timehri. There was a recent upgrade of the automatic weather station here at Timehri, everybody knows weather information is very important for navigation. Here they have been an upgrade of the air traffic control training simulator” The Minister stated.

Top priority
Also echoing similar sentiments was Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt Col (ret’d) Egbert Field, who highlighted that safety is a top priority in the work field. On this point he underscored the importance of the learners being passionate about their career choice.

“We want people who are looking for a career that they will call home. Aviation is a very safety conscious item, safety conscious because it doesn’t only include or involve material things like airplanes, desks and benches but lives and lives are something to be treasured and cherished. when it comes to the important matters like guiding those pilots and aircraft through our skies that is serious therefore, I want you to throw away all childish behavior and take up the mantle of safety consciousness” he stated.
Meanwhile, a total of 25 persons, many of whom hail from hinterland communities, have commenced training in the area of air traffic control. The programme consists of three months of academic instruction followed by three months of practical, on-the-job training. Successful graduates of this programme are guaranteed employment with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, with ongoing training opportunities for career advancement.