LIAT Airline, yesterday, welcomed the inaugural flight of its largest ATR 72 aircraft from Barbados to Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara.

It was the first since LIAT converted its fleet from the smaller Dash 8 300 aircraft to the larger ATR 42s and 72s.
The ATR 72 can accommodate up to 70 passengers and is the biggest passenger commercial aircraft, to date, to land at Ogle International.
Ogle International Airport recently acquired the GCCA certification as a Code 3C terminal which can service 70-seater planes.

Consultant/Spokesman Kit Nascimento told reporters that it was the initial commercial flight by the ATR 72 aircraft replacing the Dash 8 300.
He stated that the configuration is for 66 passengers but accommodates 70, making it the largest to land at Ogle.
Nascimento added that Ogle International Airport is certified to facilitate any 70-seater aircraft with the extension to widen the runway and the requirements certified by GCCA and the Eastern Caribbean Authority which governs LIAT to facilitate such large aircraft.
He pointed out that the aircraft is a turbo jet and Ogle International is fully capable of accommodating any 70-seater and it is up to standard with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), in terms of security requirements.

STRAIGHTFORWARD FLIGHT
Pilot Christopher Cameron said, following the arrival, that it was “a straightforward flight.”
He said the runway conditions were good, the aircraft handled it very nicely but noted that there was a lot of excitement about the aircraft landing at Ogle.
Cameron remarked that the plane performed well and there was no problem with it.
The flight arrived with 42 passengers and there were no issues about landing nor does he foresee any problems with takeoff.
Also present yesterday was Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mekdeci among other airport officials when the aircraft landed at Ogle.

(By Michel Outridge)