The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday said it was “increasingly concerned” about the number of domestic aircraft accidents, and safety seminars were held last month to ensure that the aviation industry maintains high standards.
The GCAA, in a statement yesterday, noted that Transport Minister Robeson Benn and the management of the aviation umbrella body were concerned about the “unacceptable” situation, which saw several incidents throughout the year. As a result, the seminars were organised to remind the main players of the sector of their duty to strive to maintain the highest standards of safety in their day-to-day operations.
According to the GCAA, in December, two flight operation experts, Captain Gregory Fox, veteran pilot and CEO of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) and Guyanese Captain Egbert Field, a veteran in the sector who is attached to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), delivered safety promotion presentations to over 90 aviation personnel. Participants included company owners, senior executives, chief pilots, maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, airport personnel and GCAA inspectors.
The GCAA stated that the aim of the seminars were to provide insights into the three major types of accidents; loss of control in flight; controlled flight into terrain; and approach and landing accidents, including runway incursions and excursions. The participants also took part in an interactive symposium on risk awareness.
The GCAA stated that the training was well received within the sector and achieved its objectives since the attendances were very good and the sessions were interactive. Additionally, the seminar contents were well designed and delivered while feedback was positive.
In the past two years, domestic aviation has seen an increase in the number of aircraft accidents, and though non-fatal, there have been calls for greater safety regulations.
On January 17 last year, a light Cessna aircraft crash landed at the Baramita airstrip in the North West District (NWD). The Oxford Aviation aircraft, a six-seater Cessna 206 bearing the registration 8R-GRT, crashed on landing at the interior aerodrome. The pilot was the only person on board and he escaped with only minor injuries.
A light single-engine Maule aircraft operated by a Seventh Day Adventist mission in Guyana crashed during the afternoon hours on May 17 at the Paruima airstrip in Region 7. No one sustained major injuries in that incident.
On June 22, a light Cessna aircraft operated by local airline Air Services Limited (ASL) sustained minor structural damage shortly after landing at the Kaow Island airstrip in the Essequibo River. Only the pilot was on board and he escaped with minor injuries.
The incident came a week after another incident at the Eteringbang airstrip, in Region 7, in which a Cessna Caravan aircraft operated by ASL skidded off the runway at the border community shortly after landing. The aircraft was summoned to the area by the company to transport parts for another in its fleet, which had sustained minor damage to one of its propellers earlier that day. The latter’s propeller came into contact with an engine, which was left by a miner near the runway.
In August, a Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) Cessna Caravan skidded off the Mabaruma airstrip in Region One shortly after landing after suffering a brake failure. There were no injuries.
Also in August, a Britten Norman Islander aircraft operated by TGA skidded off of the Port Kaituma airstrip, also in Region One and collided with the perimeter fence before finally coming to a halt after hitting a tree.
The aircraft, registered 8R-GHD, had circled the aerodrome several times during rainy weather and after conditions cleared the pilot attempted the landing. The aircraft’s wheels landed in several pockets of water at the time resulting in the aircraft slipping off of the runway.
Reports are that the pilot was advised by the company’s chief pilot not to land at Port Kaituma since the weather conditions were below optimum at the time. The aircraft was completely written off while the pilot’s licence was suspended pending investigations.
