Major expansion plans for Ogle Airport, CJIA – GCAA Head tells local air operators – INews Guyana
The GCAA’s Director General, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A. along with his team met with the local Air Operators on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, to sensitize them on the ongoing growth and expansion of Guyana’s aviation sector. The meeting was held at the GCAA Boardroom on High Street, Kingston.
At this pivotal meeting, the GCAA outlined the significant expansion of the aviation industry, which will greatly impact on aviation operations, and listed key expectations necessary for regulatory compliance. Affirming that safety and operational excellence remain at the forefront, the Director General called attention to several ongoing projects, including:
- The upgrading of infrastructure at Ogle Airport;
- Several new aircraft are being added to the aircraft registry;
- A study to reorganize the airspace in the Georgetown Flight Information Region (FIR); and
- Implementation of the Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) approaches.
The Director General also noted the immense investments and the numerous initiatives being undertaken to improve the aviation sector operations, such as:
- The construction of a second terminal and new taxiways at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport;
- Construction of a new Staff Complex at the Timehri Control Tower compound; and
- Preparations for Guyana to host two major international conferences in 2026; one for the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the other by the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations.
- Recruitment and training of additional staff
- Online application platform for Drone and Landing permits
The Director General noted that these initiatives align with His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision for enhancing local content and building capacity within the aviation industry, thus, positioning Guyana as a country with the most modern aviation sector by legislation, regulation, and investments.
Col. Field also emphasized that additional staff will be recruited and trained to meet the growing demands of the sector.
The operators who attended the meeting expressed their gratitude for the engagement and updates, and highlighted some of their own recent developments, which include:
- New parking facilities at Ogle Airport;
- Expanded Aprons;
- New Terminal Buildings;
- New Cargo Facility; and
- Construction of a new hangar facility at CJIA for Jags Aviation.
They also highlighted several issues that have affected their operations, which include:
- Runway incursions at hinterland airstrips caused by animals, pedestrians, vehicles, and games being played on the airstrips;
- Inadequate or, in some instances, no lighting on runways at nights on hinterland airstrips; and
- The challenge of rotor and fixed-wing aircraft operations coexisting at Ogle.
The Director acknowledged the issues raised and has committed to working with the Operators to address those concerns. He added that the GCAA remains committed to building a safe and modern aviation sector that supports Guyana’s development and ensures that aviation safety and security are not compromised.
