GDF pilots, engineers to hone skills in Y-12 aircraft operation
- in collaboration with Chinese military
Georgetown, GINA, March 6, 2012
Chief of Staff, Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Yu Wenzhe, trainers from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and GDF Air Corps pilots and engineers at the launch of the Y-12 Conversion Training Programme at the GDF Air Corps Base, Timehri.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China and the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) today launched the second Y-12 Conversion Training Programme, specially designed for pilots, technician and engineers.
The training will be undertaken in one batch comprising five pilots and 25 engineers drawn from the GDF Army Corps. It is funded by a Chinese military aid to the Guyanese army at the cost of $100M.
Giving an overview of the project, Lieutenant Colonel Cardill Kyte, GDF Air Corps, said that it resulted from an agreement that was signed by Chief of Staff, GDF, Commodore Gary Best during his visit to the People’s Republic of China in July 2010.
The agreement allows for a six-person training team to be provided by CATIC consisting of flight, maintenance instructors and interpreters and a spares package. Thus far, 59 of 64 of the major components of the spares package have already been shipped and are due to arrive in Guyana shortly.
Lt.Col. Kyte said that this consignment will go a far way in ensuring continued serviceability of Y-12 aircraft, which was purchased from CATIC in 2001 and was placed in service on March 2002, after a period of training.
“The Y-12 has provided invaluable service in supporting our troops on the Eastern Border…the licenCed engineers, on successful completion of the course, will be eligible to have their licences endorsed with the Y-12 rate,” he said.
Training for the pilots commences on March 26 and will consist of two levels: captaincy and flight instructors. Kyte added that for the programme to be successful, pilots and engineers must be able to transfer the skills and knowledge that will be acquired, into the real work environment.
“This is a groundbreaking activity and augurs well for the future collaboration among the GDF and CATIC and the PLA,” he posited.
CATIC Project Coordinator, Li Ning said that upon completion of the training, the GDF personnel will become qualified captains and engineers of Y-12 A/C; this means that it will be able to instruct more air crew to become co-pilots by itself.
Meanwhile, Commodore Best in his remarks explained that this training is coming at great expense of the GDF since the entire grant-aid has been converted to benefit the Air Corps.
The Y-12 aircraft that purchased from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) in 2001
“It therefore means that we place a high premium on the importance and effectiveness of air transport in the GDF,” the Chief of Staff said.
He expressed the hope for continued friendly working relations between the PLA and for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to fully endorse the programme.
China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Yu Wenzhe, who was also present at the launch, said that over the past years, the PLA and the GDF enjoyed close cooperation as there have been many exchanges of high level delegations between the two militaries.
More GDF officers are taking advantage of the full scholarships offered by the Ministry of National Defence in China and very soon, another batch of three is scheduled to leave Guyana to be part of military training courses in China.
Moreover, GDF is expected to send a senior rank to attend the defence seminar for Caribbean countries, which will also be held in China in June.
“The Y-12 aircraft training is yet another example of the technical cooperation between the two militaries…upon completion, GDF pilots and engineers will have a better understanding of the technical know-how and will be able to fly this aircraft more efficiently, which in turn, will help to enhance its ability in transport and surveillance,” the Ambassador said.
CATIC is a state-owned company, which exports fighters, trainers, bombers, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, transport, civil, and general aviation aircraft, missiles and associated airborne equipment.