Captain Randy Liverpool — A LEGEND

Dear Editor,
IT bothers me that almost three months after the death of an Aviation Legend and Guyanese pilot, Captain RANDY JOSEPH LIVERPOOL on 21st February, 2019, Kaieteur News is yet to offer an apology to his family and a retraction of the article they published just three days after his passing– an article which served to attack the reputation of this talented aviator.
I wish to applaud “John Public Aviator” for his letter to the Guyana Chronicle on 22nd April, 2019, captioned: “The Boeing 737 Max 8, Randy Liverpool and aviation in Guyana” — a well written article which gives a clear insight of what the facts really are, for those misinformed. The wife of Captain Liverpool for hers on 3rd March, 2019 “You’ve crossed the line, KN.”
This needs to stop! For how much longer will Kaieteur News continue with their SHODDY reporting? How much longer will they continue to make conclusive headlines for “stories” bearing inconclusive evidence? They need to understand that you cannot just make careless definitive statements about people whose wives, children, families and friends are grieving. How insensitive it is to call out someone on “causing his own death” based on “whims and fancies” such as “Kaieteur News understands that…” and “a source told us.”. Which source?! Was it even a reliable one?! We know nothing. Such insensitive headlines ought to follow with something more evidential and less circumstantial. Was this three-second video taken the said day in question? There are too many gaps that need to be filled and many questions to be answered before you put up a headline like that. The fact remains — investigations are ongoing. So please, like my colleague, I ask that until such time the media, the authority and the general public refrain from pointing to the biggest tattle in aviation — pilot error.
Flying in Guyana is no joke. Not many people truly understand the density of our jungle. How many planes have gone missing and are yet to be found ? When flying alone in an aircraft, air traffic controllers and fellow pilots are your solitary guardian angels and best friends, you must be pleasant to them and vice versa – they are the last voices you could very well hear.
Shuttling and its associated activities is a growing epidemic, the most dangerous type of flying in Guyana. The authority needs to make rules governing shuttling operations and enforce them. These activities pose serious threats to our pilots, but has a substantial position in our aviation culture – so much so that it is considered less dangerous and more routine. The margin of risk, however, comes with the unpredictability of any individual’s capacity to manage these operations successfully under all circumstances, especially in environments that are inaccessible.
Pilots and air traffic controllers can testify to the countless number of times Captain Liverpool has departed and returned to Ogle just a few minutes after being airborne; or taxi for departure and abort his take-off; or even cancel his flight because of some problem or deficiency on the said and all the other company aircraft. How many times have we gone to interior aerodromes and there he is waiting for his plane to be fixed or a part to be sent in to fix it? Now tell me, does this sound like a “reckless” person? Hardly. Scrupulous, I’d say. For the record,Captain Liverpool was never involved in any aviation accident nor incident in his many years of flying. Let us not forget a few years ago fire broke out in the same aircraft while being flown by another pilot. A thorough check, if done, will highlight all the above from the reports and logs of ATC, but rather than waiting on a comprehensive report to be made, everyone has become an aviation expert.
Yet, after all of these, working under the harshest conditions, Randy has never bad-mouthed the company for which he flew because he wanted to safeguard his company’s reputation — a company which could not come to his defence, a company which Randy single-handedly built. Orlando Charles, you are a disappointment to Guyanese pilots! As said, SHAME ON YOU!
Words can never suffice for the devastation of losing this brilliant aviator; he will forever be missed. It was always a joy to fly Guyana’s airspace while he was. A voice myself and fellow pilots certainly miss hearing. From him “wowing” at his ATC friends on the radios to cracking a joke to keep us going. I clearly recount the joy in his voice as he broadcasted to our colleagues the news on welcoming his baby boy. A gregarious man of God, family and so much love.
My humble request is for the investigators to comb through this accident with “a fine tooth comb.” A lot of information is being concealed. Rather than bashing him, remember as an aviator, he has served our people for many years — keeping our skies safe as an air traffic controller and providing necessities in areas inaccessible as a pilot. Why not rename the airstrip “Randy Liverpool Airstrip – Eteringbang” ? It is the least he deserves. Heroes are remembered, but LEGENDS never die. Sleep well my friend.

Regards
Guyanese Aviator

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