Business View Caribbean - January 2016 87
in keeping with their obligations as contracting States
to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.)
In addition to working towards obtaining its Category
1 status, other important initiatives in GCAA’s imme-
diate future include expansions of both international
airports. The Cheddi Jagan expansion will be a gov-
ernment project, while work at Ogle will be a public/
private partnership. “We’re having proposals from
companies who want to start their operations at that
airport, because it’s closer to the city,” Heeralall says.
“We’re also working in collaboration with the aviation
community for the rehabilitation and development of
the hinterland airstrips. When we look back five years
from now, I would like Guyana to see the GCAA as an
organization that fostered the continued growth of a
safe, secure, efficient aviation industry that contrib-
utes to the economic, social, and cultural well being
of our nation.”
PREFERRED VENDORS
Air Services Ltd.
- Located at the Ogle International
Airport, Air Services Ltd. (ASL) operates an extensive
fleet of 23 airplanes and 3 helicopters, providing safe,
efficient, and reliable service to all of Guyana’s interior
destinations. The company’s fixed wing fleet includes
Cessna Grand Caravans, 206s, 172s, and a 414,
BN2A Islanders, and a 510 Turbo Thrush Commander.
Its rotor fleet includes Bell 206 L-4 and R-44 Helicop-
ters. ASL’s shuttle operations are located at Mahdia
where it moves over 300,000 lbs. of cargo and pas-
sengers per month to the remote hinterland airstrips
in Regions 7 and 8, providing a lifeline to the com-
munities in these two regions that are without river or
road access. ASL has also partnered with the Ministry
of Health to provide night medivacs which save numer-
ous lives each year and this service is available to both
corporate clients and the general public.
Committed to the development of Guyana’s tourism
industry, ASL has partnered with the Ministry of Tour-
ism to offer flights to the majestic Kaieteur Falls. The
company is also a sponsor of the Pakaraima Safari. It
has served production clients such as BBC, National
Geographic, Discovery Channel, RAW TV and Omni
Productions for over two decades.
ASL’s Maintenance Department is approved by the
Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as an Aircraft
Maintenance Organization (AMO) and its international-
ly recognized flight school offers courses from the Pri-
vate Pilot to the Commercial Pilot license and includes
a classroom consisting of the most modern teaching
aids, a flight simulator, three (3) Cessna 172s and two
(2) Cessna 206s. The school is staffed by seasoned
flight instructors with thousands of hours of flight in-
structing experience. -
Trans Guyana Airways Ltd.
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