…suspension lifted after investigation completed
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Friday announced that an investigation and inspection exercise has been completed on all Cessna Caravans at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, and it has shown that the aircraft are safe for operation.
The aircraft would have been grounded on Thursday after a landing gear collapsed on one of the planes destined for a hinterland location on Wednesday.
Guyana Times understands that the left main landing gear of aircraft C208B, belonging to Air Services Limited, collapsed while the craft was being loaded at the Ogle Airport. Some passengers had already boarded the plane when the incident occurred.
The suspension was issued by GCAA Director General Field, who noted that the grounding would be imposed until all inspections are completed.
Following the investigation and findings, Director General of the GCAA, Egbert Field, lifted the suspension which was instituted earlier in the week.
This gives the operators the green light to continue using this type of aircraft as part of their fleet. However, it was hinted that a more “in-depth” inspection would be conducted at a later date.
In November 2018, A Boeing 757 aircraft operated by Fly Jamaica crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
The aircraft, carrying 118 adults along with two infants and an 8-member crew, took off from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at about 02:10h, but after some time, the aircraft encountered hydraulic problems and as such returned to the CJIA, where it crash-landed. The aircraft was destined for Toronto, Canada.
Most of the passengers were subsequently transported to their home or hotels, while arrangements were finalised with Caribbean Airlines to transport some to Canada as soon as possible. Moments after the aircraft crash-landed, the Control Tower reportedly contacted the Duty Officer and the Guyana Fire Service.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon revealed the report into the emergency landing was presented to Cabinet, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson presented the report, complete with details on the incident, to cabinet.
An 85-year-old woman, Rookhia Kalloo, who was aboard the Canada-bound plane, succumbed to her injuries sustained from the crash.
