Works to upgrade the deteriorating Eteringbang Airstrip will soon commence and will be undertaken by the Guyana Defence Force, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said on Friday.
Local aircraft pilots last week bemoaned the condition of the airstrip and cited safety concerns during landings and takeoffs.
Edghill told Stabroek News that they have advertised for the supply of materials to upgrade the airstrip and the works will be done by local labour under the supervision of the GDF.
Captain Gerry Gouveia Jr of Roraima Airways explained on Friday that after heavy rainfall, the runway becomes slippery posing a challenge to pilots at take-off and landing. Further, some portions of the runway have also eroded which poses even more challenges.
He stressed that the runaway, which sees a high volume of traffic on a daily basis, needs to be upgraded to cushion the effects of inclement weather.
According to Gouveia Jr, pilots are hoping that the Ministry of Public Works will identify an engineering design that will be able to stand up to weather conditions. He noted too that the extension of the runway should be considered in the upgrading works.
“Ultimately we will have to bring a concrete airstrip as a solution. The laterite airstrip has outlived its usefulness. The volume of the traffic is immense and we have to be able to put a permanent solution,” Minister Edghill had said back in 2020 when he inspected the airstrip.
Two years ago, tenders were received for the rehabilitation of the airstrips. However, Stabroek News learnt that the rehabilitation works were not done up to standard.
