ON Tuesday last, at approximately 22:00hrs, Ogle Airport Inc. intercepted and stopped a fuel supply tanker found to be bringing aviation fuel onto the airport for delivery for Air Services Limited (ASL). The Guyana Energy Agency and Customs Anti Narcotics Unit were informed and took possession of the fuel tanker and confirmed that the tanker was carrying aviation fuel. The fuel was not, however, authorised for use at Ogle Airport. In accordance with Ogle Airport Operations Manual, approved by the Director General, Civil Aviation Authority (DGCAA), only those companies approved by OAI and the DGCAA as fuel handling agents at Ogle Regional Municipal Airport may engage in the handling, receiving, storing and dispensing of fuel.

All the fueling operations are conducted at Ogle Airport by Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services Ltd. (CAMSL) and Rubis West Indies, in accordance with internationally established regulations and standards. 

Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services Ltd. is the authorized agent of Rubis West Indies, who are the authorized suppliers of aviation fuel products to Ogle Airport. Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services Ltd. owns and operates a fuel farm at Ogle Airport as a contracted fuel handling and dispensing agent for Rubis, ensuring that all the requisite filtration and safety and quality control measures are in place.

Rubis West Indies is responsible for conducting  inspections for all aircraft fuel servicing facilities at the Airport.

On Thursday last, according to a statement from Ogle Airport Inc. last night, Ogle Airport’s management wrote Air Services Limited (ASL) referring ASL to the rules and regulations governing fuel handling, receiving, storing and dispensing of fuel at the airport and informing ASL that ASL is not an approved fuel handling agent and is in violation of the airport’s regulations by bringing aviation fuel onto the Airport, and that ASL will not be permitted to bring any more aviation fuel onto the airport.

In defiance of the notice given to ASL, a fuel tanker and canter truck sought permission to enter the airport at 18:30hrs. The drivers of these vehicles identified the fact that they were transporting aviation fuel for delivery to the ASL Hangar. The airport’s chief of security ascertained from the drivers that they were not authorized by OAI’s management for delivery of aviation fuel to the airport. The trucks were denied entry to the airport.

At about 18:45hrs, Capt. Mazahar Ally, Managing Director of ASL, arrived at the airport’s gate. Capt. Ally boarded the fuel tanker and drove it into the padlocked airport gate, forcing entry into the airport, followed by the canter truck. One of the airport’s security guards standing at the gate was forced to take evasive action to avoid being run over.

The Ogle Airport security immediately reported the incident to the Sparendaam Police Station. The police subsequently visited the airport and conducted investigations.

After the departure of the police, Capt. Mazahar Ally later returned to the airport gate where he was exceedingly abusive and used threatening language to the airport’s security on duty, the statement concluded.