Locals not attracted to Flight Operations Inspector job – GCAA

Jan 31, 2014 News 0

Appointing a Flight Operation Inspector, particularly for Ogle International Airport, is something the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) cannot afford, since local personnel are not attracted to this line of duty.
This was the assertion of Zulfikar Mohamed, Director General of GCAA, during a brief interview with this publication in response to comments reportedly made by Ogle International Airport’s Public Relations Officer, Kit Nascimento, in a daily newspaper.
Nascimento reportedly said that Trans Guyana Airways had written to GCAA and Transport Minister Robeson Benn requesting that they engage the services of a flight operations inspector, but to no avail.
But, according to Mohamed, there were attempts in the past to place a Flight Operations Inspector at the airport. He explained that GCAA had trained an individual who subsequently migrated to Jamaica and another person was trained for the job. However, Ogle International Airport was displeased with that person and he was taken off the job.
Mohamed emphasized that many persons in the aviation industry prefer to be pilots than to be burdened with the responsibilities that being a Flight Operation Inspector entails. The only option available is to hire someone from abroad, but that would be very costly.
Nascimento reportedly said that the GCAA needs a Flight Operation Inspection Unit to regulate the operations.
But in the absence of this Unit, GCAA benefits from the services of inspectors attached to the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Oversight Services, Mohamed said. The inspectors come to Guyana about three to four times per year, and whenever needed, to inspect aircraft and facilities, etc.
He added that GCAA provides allowances, accommodation and covers other expenses for their visits to Guyana. In addition, one of GCAA’s airworthiness officers also does work for Caribbean Aviation Safety and Oversight Services.