A $123M Search and Rescue (SAR) Information System is now in operation at the Timehri Control Tower at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, increasing Guyana’s capacity to respond to emergencies, and ultimately save lives.
The SAR Information System was officially launched by the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Monday.
The system was supplied and installed by Canadian firm, Intelcan Technosystems Inc. in collaboration with the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR).
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, said the SAR Information System replaces the manual system, and will allow for real time data to be provided during search and rescue operations. He said ultimately, it would allow for resources to be deployed in a timely manner.
“This system, all it does, it makes that process faster, more reliable, and we can have a search and rescue plan implemented quicker than we would have done in the past, and it is less laborious. So, that is what you call development that is what you call development. You develop from one stage of processing to another,” Minister Indar said.
The new system computerizes the management and coordination of search and rescue operations. The digital platform is also expected to enhance decision-making by providing real-time data integration of resources and operational guidance to agencies involved in search and rescue missions.
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field, said the SAR Information System will increase the country’s capacity to conduct better search and rescue operations.
He said maintaining an effective search and rescue system in the country is critical to meeting the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, and as such, the SAR Information System brings added value.
Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Omar Khan said as an agency involved in search and rescue operations, the GDF welcomes the installation of the SAR Information System.
“Today, this is not just a commissioning of a new technology, but the activation of a system that directly supports national readiness, interagency coordination and operational effectiveness when lives are at risk. For the GDF, search and rescue is not a theoretical responsibility, it is an operational task often executed under severe pressure – most times with incomplete information and unforgiving timelines,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.
He said historically, the GDF relied on fragmented information and manual logs, which often resulted in delayed updates at critical time. The IMSAR software, he said, will undoubtedly change all of that.
Sixteen personnel from the GCAA, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Guyana Defence Force and Ogle Airport were trained to operate the SAR Information System.
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