Roraima Airways pilot Learie Barclay has been suspended for six months by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) following the crash landing involving the Britten-Norman Trislander at Eccles, East Bank Demerara last August.
A letter, addressed to Barclay and seen by this newspaper, stated that his suspension was effective from August 16, 2021. As a part of his suspension he was also required to, among other things, complete 200 hours of flights under supervision of a training captain and complete the “entire Trislander Ground School Course” before his licences privilege are restored.
Barclay was also ordered to relinquish his duties as a “Training/Pilot Instructor.”
Stabroek News had also previously reported the operator Roraima Airways is also facing penalties but GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field clarified that this is not the case.
When he spoke at the Ministry of Public Works’ year-in-review press conference on Monday, his comments on domestic airlines facing penalties for aviation irregularities were in general. In the case of the crash landing at Haags Bosch, Field said their investigations found the pilot erred and not Roraima Airways.
In a Facebook post, Barclay stated that he has always dedicated himself to safety when operating.
“August 14, 2021 was a punch in the gut that took the wind out of me. Nothing in my life has been more catastrophic or serious in nature. I dedicated myself to Safety, providing training and opportunities particularly for the marginalized, and an enthusiasm for getting out in the night to save lives,” he stated in his post.
The pilot said that he was told on many occasions to be quiet but he has chosen to ignore such instructions, given the “outpouring love and support” he has received.
“You guys have grown to become my extended family and know that I will be back very soon. With more enthusiasm, and more drive to help and make those lives around me better. I cannot begin to express the love and gratitude I have for you. Thank you so much,” he wrote.
Moving ahead, Barclay said “the future is mine because God lives and let me and those in my care live. He also gave me the opportunity to live my dreams and receive the best training there is available. That was and continues to be invaluable.”
Barclay declined further comment when contacted by this newspaper.
Both Field and Edghill had disclosed that the preliminary investigation had found that fuel starvation was the main contributing factor to the crash-landing.
Fuel starvation is described as the failure of the fuel system to supply adequate fuel to allow the engine to run properly, for example due to blockage, malfunction of the pump or a vapour lock, leading to loss of power or engine stoppage.
The aircraft was forced to crash-land in a swamp-like area after it reportedly experienced difficulties. The crash-landing of the Britten-Norman Trislander, bearing registration No. 8R GRE occurred at around 11.30 am as the aircraft was en route to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle. It had departed Imbaimadai in Region Seven around 10.20 am.
The plane crash-landed in the vicinity of the Haags Bosch landfill facility on the East Bank of Demerara, raising concerns about what might have gone wrong and the extremely close shave for the two crew and three passengers, one of whom sustained injuries. There were two adult passengers and a two-year-old child. No one was seriously injured.
