GCCA says foreign helicopters spotted in Guyana’s airspace were authorised

Last Updated on Sunday, 9 March 2025, 21:00 by Writer

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Sunday sought to calm sections of the public’s unease about several foreign helicopters that were earlier in the day seen flying in the country’s airspace.

While not directly referring to concerns raised on social media several hours before its statement, the regulatory agency said special authorization was granted to Gyri Koeln SA, a private aviation company based in Costa Rica. This authorization permits a fleet of three ultralight aircraft to traverse Guyanese airspace as part of their journey from Suriname to their ultimate destination in Trinidad and Tobago.

The GCAA, as the governing body charged with regulating and overseeing all aerial navigation and aviation operations within the nation’s airspace, indicated that all background checks were conducted before granting expressed consent and authorisation for the aircraft’s passage through Guyana’s sovereign airspace. “The GCAA meticulously reviewed the flight plans, aircraft specifications, and credentials of the pilots before granting the necessary approvals, ensuring full compliance with all relevant safety protocols and international aviation standards,” the Authority said.

The trio of nimble, lightweight planes commenced their voyage on March 8, 2025, departing from Suriname at precisely 13:29 hours Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which equates to 09:29 a.m. local time in Guyana. The GCAA added that following a three-hour flight, the ultralights successfully landed at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport in Guyana at 16:29 hours UTC or 12:29 p.m. according to Guyana time. After a brief overnight layover, the GCAA said the aircraft once again ascended into the skies on the morning of Sunday, March 9, 2025, taking off from the airport at 10:54 a.m. local time (14:54 hours UTC) to embark upon the final stretch of their aerial odyssey, flying in formation, to Trinidad and Tobago.

According to the regulatory agency, that transit agreement underscores Guyana’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation and facilitating the smooth flow of civilian air traffic, while simultaneously upholding the integrity of its borders and national security interests.

Concerns about the aircraft on several Facebook accounts came just over one week after a Venezuelan military patrol vessel entered Guyana’s exclusive economic zone and communicated with a number of oil sector vessels operating on behalf of ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block under licence or permission by Guyana.

The vessels were erroneously informed by radio message that they were illegally in Venezuelan waters that were in dispute with Guyana.