THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) and other stakeholders are expected to return to the crash site of the Cessna Caravan today to begin removing the necessary components of the aircraft for further analysis as the investigation continues.The aircraft, on its way to Imbaimadai, was moving some 2,800 pounds of fuel to the location when it went down Saturday. The incident claimed the lives of the only two persons on board, the pilot, Blake Slater

and cargo-loader, Dwayne Jacobs.
According to Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn, the GCCA officials will return to the crash site with special equipment to aid in the removal of the different components, including the aircraft’s engine.
He stated that Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks are currently on the ground at the crash site to protect the integrity of the downed aircraft to allow for proper investigation.
The site is under the control of the GCCA investigators, he said at a press conference at his office in Wight’s Lane yesterday.
Benn said, “In keeping with the protocols and procedures for accident investigations, the GCCA investigators have identified and commenced interviewing material witnesses and are gathering the necessary
documentary and photographic evidence at the site for analysis.”
He noted that the GCCA is in contact with Cessna, the aircraft manufacturer; the engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney; Transport Canada, the country where the aircraft’s engine was manufactured; the National
Transport Safety Body of the United States; Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS); and the Civil Aviation Authority of Suriname (CASAS) – entities that have indicated their
willingness to provide assistance to the GCCA for the investigation.
“Transport Canada Safety Board has already accredited an inspector for this accident’s investigation,” Minister Benn said.
He added that Trans Guyana Airways, the operator of the aircraft, has also pledged full cooperation to the Authority for the investigation.
Tighter Surveillance
Benn said the incident has resulted in the decision to tighten the level of surveillance of local aircraft operations.
He said, “We have been quite concerned over a number of incidents and mishaps…we have been discussing additional measures, additional oversight, in respect of tightening the level of surveillance with respect
to aircraft operations.”
The minister added that the increased surveillance will include increased frequency of ad-hoc inspections on the coast, as well as in the interior, of aircraft operations.
He added that the focus of this effort is to ensure that all standards, as it relates to loading of aircrafts, etc., are strictly followed.
Benn noted that the recent spate of accidents has given rise to operational concerns at the level of the ministry.
He stated that the local airline operators are aware of these concerns, which will be addressed at a formal stakeholder meeting, in an effort to tangibly address them.
The minister explained that stakeholders in the local aviation sector have met from time to time to address concerns arising from reports at both the Ogle and Timehri towers.
Assurance
Even as he outlined his concerns of local operations, Benn stressed his assurance that, despite the recent accidents, all efforts have been made and will continue to be made to ensure the highest level of
safety in local aircraft operations.
He noted that domestic travel has increased significantly, with some 50,000 flights annually, 130 flights daily.
He said, “There are things that we have to look into arising out of this investigation. ….comparatively speaking, statistically speaking, we have much more activity and the entire system has been responding
to this increase in the level of activity and responding to the amount of effort required to manage the overall system.”
He reiterated his assurance to the public about the safety levels and added that as part of the local efforts, assessments and overall reviews of operational mechanisms are being done continuously.
Benn made it clear that the focus is on ensuring that the concerns are mitigated, to avoid a reoccurrence of Saturday’s accident.
ELT Malfunction
GCCA’s Director General Zulficar Mohamed, also on hand for the press conference, when asked about the reported malfunction with the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), explained that this is still to be
confirmed.
Mohamed said once confirmation is made legal advice on the way forward will be considered.
He, however, acknowledged the reports that the ELT does not activate on impact during a crash.
According to him, the reports of faulty ELTs have surfaced not only in Guyana, but several other countries, following a global move to introduce a new brand of the said equipment.
Mohamed added that Guyana has several ELT suppliers and there has been no contract with the manufacturer that supplied the equipment used on the aircraft.
The GCCA Head concluded that once the reports from the investigations are in, the necessary steps will be taken.
Mohamed said the completion time for the investigation is dependent on several factors, including the number of stakeholders involved in ensuring proper completion of the process.
The aircraft, registered 8R-GHS, broadcasted a ‘mayday’ emergency call at approximately 10:56hrs on Saturday and an aerial search was commenced immediately. The search and rescue team located the aircraft on
the jungle floor around midday on Sunday and GDF ranks were rappelled into an opening one mile from the site. The bodies of the two persons who perished were extracted late Monday and transported to Georgetown
early Tuesday morning.
The incident is the second crash for 2014 but the first fortunately was not fatal.