Chagaunas East MP Fazal Karim does not believe enough is being done to grow T&T’s aviation industry. He cited the near 150-person turnout at his Introduction to Civil Aviation programme at his constituency’s sub-office on Saturday.
“Had this been done in the education system to cater for the needs of all of these people, we would not have had the multitude we had this morning,” he said in an interview following the session
Retired director of the T&T Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA), Ramesh Lutchmedial, who has has been working in the aviation industry for more than 50 years, said there was a need for aviation professionals in the country.
“You need people all the time due to people retiring and people resigning and so on, therefore there has to be a continuous development of people to take over and there is a shortage of aviation professionals,” he said.
Lutchmedial said it was not only important to train people to fill gaps but to also provide training to keep abreast with new technologies.
Currently, there is only one airline operating out of T&T, Caribbean Airlines and only three companies which operate helicopters—PHI, Bristow and National Helicopter Services Limited.
Lutchmedial said this had resulted in a glut of pilots.
Despite this, he said, the aviation industry comprised much more than just pilots who can benefit from its growth.
“We are the crossroads between North America and Africa, Europe and South America. In Trinidad and Tobago, all energy and labour costs—comparatively speaking—are relatively inexpensive and we have very skilled people here.
“If we were to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business here, you can attract what you call third part maintenance to maintenance for foreign carriers,” he explained.
The civil aviation programme continues at the sub-office for the next four Saturdays and will be taught by Lutchmedial.
It will explore topics such as the development of civil aviation, aviation laws and regulations, types of aircraft, aviation security and careers in aviation in T&T.