Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 07, 2014 News
…says information far from the truth
A source close to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has debunked reports that eight new Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) have received certification to assume tower control at the Ogle and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The source, who opted to remain unidentified, said that the information provided by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) pertaining to their certification is far from the truth. Despite being trained and qualified to operate in the field, it was related that the ATCOs have received no certificates.
It was related further that the workers are not being paid as Air Traffic Control Officers, but rather as assistants. The source says that the eight persons finished their training last December and have being functioning unsupervised since January.
It was stated further, that the officers have been appointed temporarily. Since 2009 when the programme started, the graduates had to wait for in excess of two months to receive their licences when these were supposed to be issued within 14 days on completion of the training.
The source went on that there has been no discussion on the benefits or leave due to them.
Kaieteur News understands that the ATCO course commenced in 2009 but there was a two-year break during which the officers served as Aeronautical Information Service Officers. The course resumed subsequently and the officers completed their training.
However, since the completion of the course and the inconsistencies in what was agreed upon, the source said that no less than four letters expressing the ATCOs’ concerns were dispatched to the GCAA Director General, Zulphicar Mohamed, and copied to the Chairman of the Aviation Board, Hugh Denbow.
It was noted that two replies were received, but nothing official to address the concerns. One reply from a named senior navigation personnel addressing a March 20, 2014 letter from the ATCOs said that before the end of April 2014, the certificates would have been issued.
The letter also contained that verbal and written requests would have been made to the GCAA and other relevant aviation departments to convene meetings or to make available information pertaining to their “appointments, remuneration and benefits.”
Head of the GCAA, Zulphicar Mohamed, told Kaieteur News yesterday that he would not respond to the allegations since he is unaware of such information. “I am not going to respond to that. I don’t know what they are talking about.”
Mohamed said that there have been discussions with the ATCOs and they understood that. “What they get is operative.”
After acknowledging that letters from the ATCOs were dispatched to his office, he told the publication that all matters are being addressed.
A press release from the CJIA Public Relations Officer on Monday stated that GCAA had eight new Air Traffic Controllers. It related that the officers are certified and have assumed responsibilities at the control towers of Ogle and CJIA.
Mohamed had praised the ATCOs for their zest and professionalism, and noted that more programmes were on the way for other ATCOs. He had stated that the GCAA aims to increase the capability of the ATCOs since these are the men and women that keep the aircraft and its passenger’s safe in our airspace.
The source said that the ATCOs are however, awaiting a resolution to the matter with their necessary credits bestowed on them. An air traffic controller is trained to maintain the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within the country’s airspace.
Earlier in the year an investigation was launched when a seasoned ATCO walked out of the CJIA control tower when he was not relieved at the stipulated time. A flight was about to land, at the time.
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