A SPECIALLY equipped Canadian plane, brought into Guyana to undertake aerial seismic surveys for CGX Energy Inc, has been deployed to assist with the search for the missing Britten Norman Islander, which authorities lost contact with on December 28 last.

The aircraft, bearing registration number 8R-GHE, went missing with its pilot, 27 year-old Captain Nicky Persaud, and another employee, 51 year-old cargo loader Dave Bisnauth.
The plane, which lost contact with air traffic controllers 10 days ago, is presumed to have crashed in the dense jungle in the Mahdia, Region 8, locale, prompting a massive search operation including ranks of the Guyana Defence Force’s Special Forces Unit, Air Services Limited (ASL)—whose plane it is that went missing—and now the Canadian plane on loan from CGX Energy Inc, among others.

Chief Executive Officer of CGX’s Energy Inc, Professor Suresh Narine, over the weekend confirmed that the seismic aircraft had been deployed to assist in the search.
This, he said, was done, given the aircraft’s capacity. Professor Narine has indicated to media operatives that the plane which contains,“magnetic equipment onboard”, to do magnetic surveys, was loaned to the help search for the plane that has gone down.”
According to Professor Narine, “It is serendipitous that the plane was here at this time.”
While the plane has already been conducting aerial reconnaissance of the designated search areas, the results of the data garnered will have to be first analysed before any leads it may uncover can be pursued.
Professor Narine did indicate that “We don’t know if the equipment will have high enough resolution to help, but we are trying.”
The missing aircraft was at the time transporting cargo from Mahdia to Karisparu, Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and reportedly lost contact some ten minutes after take-off.
Immediately after the ASL plane was reported missing, a number of other aircraft were deployed to execute search-and-rescue operations, but to date searches have been futile as they are yet to locate a wreckage or any sign of the missing crew.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) has also activated its Rescue Coordination Centre at the Timehri Control Tower.
The search operation has been hampered by extremely hostile terrain and stints of bad weather.