Guatemala - Civil Aviation Recovery Program Project

Overview & Synopsis

Civil Aviation Recovery Program Project for Guatemala has the development objectives of strengthening the aviation sector governance framework and improving the operational safety and resilience of selected airports. Component 1: Enhancing the Governance and Capacity of Civil Aviation will provide technical assistance and advisory services to advance sector reform, build institutional capacity, and support strategic planning. Sub-component 1.1: Support to the Civil Aviation Reform will operationalize a modern regulatory framework, develop and implement an aviation safety Corrective Action Plan following International Civil Aviation Organization standards, carry out a sector financial sustainability study including revenue allocation and a long-term airport financial model, design and help establish an autonomous civil aviation regulator and an airport operating entity with transition planning and internal regulations, and prepare a strategic roadmap to enable private capital mobilization through public-private partnership (PPP) options, including feasibility analysis and a financial model for an initial PPP. Sub-component 1.2: Strategic Planning and Training for the Aviation Sector will finance master plans for selected airports and aerodromes, studies on airspace and obstacle limitation surfaces and aeronautical information updates, an assessment of opportunities to optimize facilities at La Aurora International Airport, and an assessment of Guatemala’s potential role in the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain; it will also prepare a greenhouse gas reduction and energy efficiency plan and pursue Airport Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation, a Wildlife Management Plan, and an Environmental and Social Management System, design a Gender Action Plan for the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil, DGAC), and deliver continuous training, licensing, and certification for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) and air traffic control (ATC) personnel supported by a Learning Management System. Component 2: Safe and Resilient Airport Infrastructure will finance targeted upgrades at La Aurora International Airport, Mundo Maya International Airport, and the aerodromes of Puerto Barrios, Quetzaltenango, and Huehuetenango to meet safety, security, and climate resilience standards. Sub-component 2.1: Urgent Aviation Safety and Emergency Preparedness Measures will deliver ARFF facility upgrades and vehicles, assess and modernize ATC towers and surveillance, install priority airfield lighting and implement performance-based navigation procedures, construct a runway-end safety area at Mundo Maya, strengthen perimeter security and wildlife deterrence, improve reception and social-support areas for deported migrants at La Aurora, and complete designs and supervision for works. Sub-component 2.2: Integrated Airport Safety, Security, and Resilience Enhancements will rehabilitate and overlay runways, taxiways, and aprons; construct or upgrade ATC towers and equipment; build runway-end safety areas; implement climate-informed drainage and expand wastewater treatment at La Aurora; and deliver landside energy audits and upgrades, power supply redundancy, new security screening and surveillance systems, and parking pavement improvements, including related supervision; disbursements for this sub-component will be linked to the approval of internal regulations for the new regulatory and operating entities. Sub-component 2.3: Other Aerodromes will fund minor safety and resilience interventions identified during implementation. Component 3: Project Implementation Support will establish and operate a Project Implementation Unit within DGAC, covering project management, fiduciary and environmental and social management, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement and grievance redress, training, membership fees for carbon accreditation, and essential office facilities and equipment.