Three teams from were flown into Mahdia, Region 7 from Timehri by GDF Skyvan today to join the search for the Britten Norman Islander and the pilot and cargo handler who went missing shortly after takeoff on December 28, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said today.
Ten members from the Guyana Forestry Commission; eight ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces and eight Line Cutters from the St. Cuthbert’s Mission were inserted by helicopter into an ‘area of high interest’ to commence ground searches bordered by the North Fork and Blackwater rivers, the GCAA said.
Standard ‘three man’ teams – from GFC and GDF – have drawn a route to systematically comb the mountainous terrain in search for the twin engine aircraft, pilot Nicky Persaud and Loader David Bisnauth, the GCAA said. The teams are outfitted with modern communication equipment inclusive of satellite telephones; handheld radios; global positioning instruments, and are in regular contact with the Rescue Coordination sub-Centre at Mahdia.
Simultaneously, aerial examination continued with two helicopters supported by two fixed wing aircraft, not only in the ‘area of high interest’ but along the pre-determined grids which were prepared by the RCC, Timehri Control Tower.
The search had to be discontinued at 16:30 hrs due to bad weather and will resume at first light tomorrow, the GCAA said.
The area of high probability was based on reports of sightings in an area above the highest peak, east of Deer Creek, approximately 10 miles, southwest of Mahdia.