Guyana losing pilots to the Caribbean, North America
by Sharon Lall
TRINIDAD and Tobago is scouting for pilots in Guyana which itself is losing them to the Caribbean and North America, officials reported this week. The twin-island republic has had recruiters here putting forward proposals to experienced pilots, including those who can fly helicopters, a top industry source told the Chronicle. Personnel from Suriname also came here three months ago looking for skilled pilots. Suriname has at least two A-Star (Aerostatiale) AF350 helicopters and a Bell 206 helicopter while Trinidad reportedly needs pilots for four new Bell helicopters which it recently purchased. Pilots who can fly small helicopters like a Bell 206 and A-Star in islands such as Antigua and St. Lucia take home a basic pay of US$3,500 per month and are provided with housing, car and other facilities, officials said. Those who can operate medium lift helicopters like an F-76 get a minimum of US$5,000 in the Caribbean and anything in the vicinity of US$7,500 in North America. "As soon as you come out of Guyana, you get more money (in the aviation business)," one pilot noted. "...It's difficult getting employment here. People are not employing (pilots) because aviation (here) is not a steady business." The drawback is, however, that North American employers most times prefer an American pilot over those from the Caribbean and South America, he said. Pilots flying Islanders and other small models in the Caribbean can earn between US$1,500 to US$2,000 per month. More is paid to them once they have accumulated a certain number of flying hours. Aviators also flying Islanders in Guyana can get a basic salary of some G$200,000 per month. "Pilots are leaving because we don't have enough flights to give everybody work," the pilot said. There is a shortage of commercial pilots in Guyana and the Caribbean and North America is taking the bulk of those leaving the region. Director of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), Mr Jeffrey Pierre Wednesday said he was aware that some pilots have left Guyana. Within the last three months, at least two professional pilots, who can either have a Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL), have departed these shores for work in Antigua and St. Vincent, he added. The CAD has records of all pilots issued with Guyana licences, but no "running date" of where these skilled core people are located. According to Pierre, pilots can easily get jobs in the Caribbean using the licences issued here. The CAD, to date, has issued 41 professional pilot's licences - 28 CPLs and 13 ATPLs in Guyana. Roraima Airways Limited does not have a problem with the shortage of pilots since its operates mostly using a freelance system, an official from the firm said. The company has one regular pilot apart from two senior freelance aviators who fly, as well, for Air Services Limited (ASL) and Trans-Guyana Airways (TGA), the only other local airlines in Guyana. Roraima Airways has two Islanders and a Cessna 402 aircraft. It cannot use full-time pilots because of the absence of a greater degree of scheduled services. The company operates one scheduled service to Lethem on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, the Chronicle was told. In addition, Roraima does chartered flights. A lot of the pilots are in Miami and fly executive type `Lear' jets either interstate or in state, this newspaper understands. "Lots of pilots have left...after Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC now converted to GA2000 Airways) sold the Twin Otter...these guys had to be floating (and they are) not able to float any more," an aviation expert remarked. Since the GA2000 takeover, those pilots who might have been in that system could not all be absorbed into the local airline operations, and some, if not all, migrated to Caribbean islands where they took up positions which allow them to fly aircraft similar to the former GAC Twin Otter, the Chronicle was told. ASL does upgrading training for its own pilots. The senior lot has more than 10,000 flying hours. An ASL spokesman said although aviation personnel have in the past been leaving, the company experienced the most significant departure of pilots this year. ASL has three Islanders, four Cessna 206 aircraft, a Seneca executive aircraft, one float-plane and a Cessna 172 training aircraft. According to the ASL personnel, the migration of pilots started this year and the firm has difficulties finding experienced pilots to fly its aircraft. ASL has eight commercial pilots on board, all of whom are full-time staffers. Seven of them are senior pilots and the juniors are undergoing training. The firm has lost three pilots this year, all to the Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean within the past six months. Mr Mark Defreitas, Reservations Manager at GA2000, who said the national airline has no shortage of pilots owing to its flight arrangement, added that the firm has been recruiting local and Caribbean pilots for its Boeing 757 jet. The exercise started a few weeks ago with advertisements in the national newspapers. GA2000 Chief Pilot, Captain Egbert Field is in the United States arranging for the training of the pilots already selected by the airline. The Chronicle has been informed that two senior pilots with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and another who flies with the Army but is not a part of it, are in negotiations with GA2000 to be part of the team which is to be chosen. These pilots were among employees laid off by the national airline during the period it experienced hardships. Interviews were conducted last week at GA2000 by Captain Field and persons from Nordstress, Australia, the operators of the Boeing 757 jet which GA2000 has been using for its international flights. The aircraft is leased from Ansett, an Australian leasing company, Defreitas said. The Chronicle understands that the interviews were rather "favourable". Currently, GA2000 is operating a wet-lease in which Nordstress provides the pilots and maintenance of the Boeing 757. However, the airline wants to take on local pilots some time in the future for the same Boeing 757 and a second plane, possibly a Boeing 737, which it hopes to acquire.  Follow the goings-on in Guyana
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