…says will monitor results from ongoing probes

THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Tuesday said it has put on hold an application for the use of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft following the fatal crash of a similar one in Ethiopia on Friday.
In a statement, the GCAA said that no such planes currently operate in Guyana and the existing application will be put on hold until the cause of the disaster is ascertained.

According to the aviation body, the unfolding events surrounding the accident on March 10, 2019 in Ethiopia, has caught its attention. The authority extends to the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority of Ethiopia its condolences, and sympathy goes out to the families and relatives of the passengers from the various countries who perished on the aircraft.

“The GCAA has taken note of the aircraft type involved, the Boeing 737 Max 8, the same type of aircraft which was involved in a similar accident less than six months before. In similar fashion, all passengers on board perished. Both crashes are under investigation however, similarities between the incidents have prompted caution among some aviation authorities and airlines,” the GCAA statement read. According to the body, given these unfortunate and regrettable occurrences, the GCAA will continue to monitor the reports emanating from the investigating team as they proceed with their investigation of these accidents.

“The authority wishes to inform the flying and general public that no aircraft of this type presently operates into Guyana, and even though one operator has submitted an application to add this type of aircraft to its fleet, as an extra safety precaution, the authority will withhold its approval until a definitive causation of the accident is ascertained. The GCAA reaffirms its commitment to enhance the safety and security of the travelling public and aviation personnel,” the release concluded.