Our Story
The Civil Aviation Training School (CATS) traces its origins to the 1970s, when it was founded as the Air Traffic Services (ATS) Training School by a group of pioneering Air Traffic Control Officers who had completed specialized training in Air Traffic Control and ATC Instructional Techniques in Canada.

From its inception, the school has operated as a subsidiary of the civil aviation regulator, strategically positioned within the Air Navigation Services Directorate, with a clear and enduring mandate: to train and develop the operational staff of the ANS Directorate.

In 2000, the transformation of the then Civil Aviation Department into the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) marked a turning point. The shift brought heightened regulatory rigor and strict adherence to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS), placing the school under closer scrutiny and driving it to pursue the internationally recognized standard of an Approved Training Organization (ATO).


That goal was realized in July 2017, when the school received its first ATO certificate from the GCAA, beginning operations under an approved training procedure manual with a staff of just two instructors. Since that milestone, CATS has pursued a path of continuous growth and improvement — achieving accreditation from the National Accreditation Council (NAC), updating and expanding its curriculum, developing a comprehensive Quality Manual and Quality Management System (QMS), growing its staff complement within a functional organizational structure, and building its course delivery capacity through newly trained instructors and modern training aids and facilities. Today, CATS extends its expertise beyond Guyana's borders, delivering training to partner countries across the region.

Our Accreditation
CATS holds accreditation under the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Programme, placing the school within a global network of aviation training organizations that meet ICAO-endorsed standards for the design, development, and delivery of competency-based training. This accreditation reflects the rigor of our Quality Management System and our commitment to internationally benchmarked training excellence.


Building on this foundation, CATS is actively pursuing TRAINAIR PLUS Platinum Membership — the programme's highest tier of recognition — alongside designation as a Regional Centre of Excellence. These pursuits represent the next stage in the school's development: strengthening curriculum breadth, deepening instructor competency-based training assurance (CBTA) practices, and expanding CATS's capacity to serve as a hub for aviation training not only for Guyana but for the wider region.

What We Offer

CATS delivers a comprehensive suite of training programmes across two main areas:


Air Traffic Services (ATS) Courses

  • AB-Initio to ATC Training Course
  • Aerodrome Control Procedural Course
  • Approach Control Procedural Course
  • Area Control Procedural Course
  • Area Control Surveillance Course
  • Flight Information/Alerting Service Course

Non-ATS Courses

  • Aeronautical Information Services Course
  • Airside Vehicle Operation
  • On-the-Job Training Instructor (OJTI)
  • AB-Initio General
  • Basic Search and Rescue
  • Examination Techniques for Examiners

Our Commitment
From humble beginnings with two instructors and a single certificate, CATS has grown into an ICAO-aligned training institution recognized for quality, regulatory compliance, and regional impact.

Guided by our Quality Management System and grounded in decades of aviation training heritage, we remain committed to developing the skilled professionals who keep the region's skies safe — while continuing to raise our own standards through TRAINAIR PLUS Platinum Membership and Regional Centre of Excellence recognition.

Last modified: Thursday, 20 August 2026, 10:43 AM