Two Guyanese investors apply to fly Guyana-Canada route

– no recent word from Greek investors

By Ravena Gildharie

The Guyana government is currently in receipt of two new applications from different local aviation investors who are interested in offering international direct flights out of Guyana to Toronto and Ontario, Canada. 

One of the applicants is Wings Aviation, which currently operates domestic flights. This investor is also hoping to fly to Caribbean destinations if the government approves the request for direct international flights.

The other applicant – Fly GT – comprises a group of Guyanese aviators and former engineers of the Guyana Airways Corporation. They are seeking to establish a business in Guyana, should the government approve. Both applicants are aiming, over time, to achieve Category 1 flights on New York and Miami routes, if their applications are approved.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has already conducted an economic assessment of the applicants, based on recommendations, to verify the capability of the applicants to provide the service for which they have applied. However, the decision now rests with the government to either approve or reject the applications. 

The government has often lamented the high cost imposed on Guyanese air travellers for flights to the Caribbean and international destinations. The administration has since been looking at various options, including bringing in other service providers, and has even considered investing in the business itself.

Two months ago, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that some Greek investors had approached the government, and were moving ahead with their bid to operate out of Guyana. The government had even inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the investors. However, according to verified information, the Civil Aviation Authority has since not heard anything from the investors. 

President Jagdeo had said that the investors wanted to operate a new airline, but were concerned about the high cost of aviation fuel.  Guyana has since been exploring options to import its own supplies and resell fuel more cheaply through the Guyana Oil Company. This is also yet to materialise. 

Two months ago, Trade, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad reported that several other airlines were interested in servicing Guyana. Jet Blue Airways of the U.S. had requested information, while KLM Royal Dutch Airline had also indicated its interest. Suriname Airways (SLM) has also initiated talks with Guyanese officials about operating here. 

Navigation upgrade 

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority is proceeding with the upgrade of its air navigation and communication systems at the Control Tower, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.  

In August 2009, the authority inked a contract with Canadian company Intelcan Technosystems Inc to replace several pieces of navigation and communication equipment. Most of the equipment had been in operation for 30 years. Hence, the government is spending some $700 million to upgrade operations. 

At present, a team from Intelcan Technosystems Inc has almost finished installing a mast for the antenna at the end of the airport’s runway, as part of the instrument landing system (ILS). 

This vital system provides precision approach guidance for aircraft landing at the Cheddi Jagan Airport, Timehri. The ILS must meet international civil aviation standards. The mast will be completely set up by the end of this year. 

Intelcan has already shipped several components of the other equipment, including the communication devices, and more is still to come. It is expected that these would all be installed by mid-January. Other equipment being replaced include the total air traffic management (ATM) system, an automated system which interfaces with other communication components, and is capable of presenting information to air traffic controllers. 

In terms of new navigation equipment, a high-powered distance measuring equipment (DME) system is being acquired. With the new DME, it will be easier for air traffic controllers to provide specific direction to pilots of aircraft.

Further, the Civil Aviation Authority has secured some $140 million in funding to procure a very high-frequency omnidirectional radio range (VOR), a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. This is to be installed at Ogle Airport, which gained international status in 2009. With the VOR, a pilot can simply and accurately navigate from Point A to Point B.

One of the other major activities set for next year in the aviation industry is a study of Guyana’s aviation surveillance equipment.