MINISTER of Public Works, Robeson Benn, in the National Assembly on Thursday in a written response to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Dr. Karen Cummings, stated that the recent incident at Kurupung Airstrip was not due to poor maintenance but because of the lack of training and experience of the airmen.
On May 16, 2014 at 13:57hrs, a Trans-Guyana Airways BN2A-27 Islander with registration 8R-GHM serial No.216 “hard landed” (a steep or rapid descent) during its approach at Kurupung Bottom airstrip, Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni). At the time of the incident, there were five passengers on the aircraft but no one suffered any injury.
The APNU Member of Parliament (MP) questioned whether the funds disbursed for the maintenance of hinterland airstrips in 2013, were utilised for upgrading the airstrip.
In response to the question, Benn indicated that in 2013, $67.32M was disbursed for the maintenance of hinterland airstrips of which $640,000 was spent to maintain the 1,365-foot long and 43-foot wide Kurupung airstrip.
He pointed out that the airstrip, on the eastern side, is bordered by a deep valley and a swamp and on the western side, a creek which made it difficult to facilitate its lengthening; hence all-year maintenance was carried out.
Benn noted that like all other government airstrips, the Kurupung airstrip has a resident contractor who is responsible for its maintenance.
The government hinterland airstrips are jointly examined by the Ministry of Public Works and Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
Responding to another enquiry made by Dr. Karen Cummings on the mechanisms put in place to avoid the event of another “hard landing,” Benn noted that this particular incident was not due to the lack of maintenance, thus more focus should be placed on training of airmen by the relevant companies.
He stated that training must include airmen proficiency checks every six months by the related companies. Also route and aerodrome checks must be done yearly, in accordance with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority requirements.
The aircraft which was seriously damaged landed before the threshold. There were also wrinkles on both the surfaces of the wing and flaps.
Written By Sandy Agasen
