Those local aircraft near-mishaps

Jan 06, 2014 Editorial

The increasing frequency of local aircraft near mishaps should serve as a wakeup call to the relevant bodies if it has not as yet done so. Within past months the media have featured stories of emergency landings, falling wheels and doors opening in midair. This situation is likely to become expected in the normal course of things if the air traveling public does not press for serious answers from the local air industry, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
The inanities that emanate from the spokespersons whenever these incidents occur are to be expected from paid servants no less. However, one would have thought that those private sector members would have been in the forefront pressing for the exercise of more diligent scrutiny regarding the safety of aircraft, passengers and crews.
A not so funny observation is that during the days of Guyana Airways Corporation, there were no reports of the type we see nowadays, or if there were, the number and severity were minimal. It is eerily similar to the situation we face with minibuses vis-à-vis the defunct Guyana Transport big bus service.
To blandly assert that there was no danger to these persons flies in the face of the reality. At the risk of sounding facetious it has not as yet been shown how the safety of occupants in an airplane can be assured with falling wheels and opening doors. No one has even mentioned the dangers posed to people on the ground as experienced by the Plaisance resident who lost her home in – of all things, a plane crash.
Imagine relaxing in the comfort and safety of your home and a wheel comes through the roof. With the Ogle Aerodrome now an international airport it is to be expected that appropriate consideration has been given to those communities in aircraft’s flight paths.
It is observed that aircraft flying interior routes normally do so over waterways, probably out of safety concerns for both plane and people on the ground. But this is negated by what appears to be a casual approach to maintenance and preflight requirements, if, according to reports, passengers are at the mercy of aviators who dismiss warnings about potential problems.
Additionally, fliers face the constant problem of wandering persons and straying animals when landing and taking off at some airstrips. Investigations which last forever, and from all appearances go nowhere, might impress upon the more cynical that they are only intended to placate. Such inquiries are likely to do more harm if they lack serious intent in terms of following up on findings and implementing recommendations. Incidentally, near-fatal mishaps have not occurred at any one particular airstrip or region which might or might not be significant. A perusal of these incidents would show that Aishalton, Kaituma, Baramita, Kwakwani, Kaow Island, Ekereku, Pariuma, Matthews Ridge, Arau have all been scenes of aircraft accidents.
Guyana must have some of the best pilots in the Caribbean, because in all of the ensuing post incident investigations no evidence of pilot error is adduced. The likelihood of this when flying in a country like Guyana must be statistically significant in view of the prevailing practice of operating using visual flight rules which is permitted under visual meteorological conditions.
This fact is no more observable than when inland flights remain grounded or have to divert to an alternative airstrip if visibility on the approach to the destination is affected by bad weather particularly in light of the largely mountainous and forested areas that characterise Guyana’s interior.
A very obvious necessity must be an in-depth review of all aircraft mishaps, including fatal and non-fatal events. Not to be ignored is the prevalence of particular types of incidents, and the operator and/or owner of the aircraft concerned.
This should not be seen as encouraging a witch hunt, but more as a call to audit compliance with the operations and maintenance schedules in the hope that these are not being sacrificed for the almighty dollar, thus putting innocent people’s lives at risk.

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