Veteran aviator reiterates concern over accident probes

Feb 21, 2014 News

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By Zena Henry
The fact that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) could become the subject of investigation as a result of any mishap, incident or accident occurring in the aviation sector has placed the agency in a position where it should not be the leader in any probe of an occurrence.

This is the view of Roraima Airways Chief Executive Officer Captain Gerald Gouveia who yesterday spoke in his capacity as member of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG). Captain Gouveia reiterated his position that the GCAA (which is the regulatory body dealing with aviation issues) should not be involved, and more importantly lead any investigation pertaining to plane crashes.
Gouveia told a gathering of media operatives that an active investigation is still a very scientific process. He said that accident investigators are specifically trained and accident investigations are not meant to be punitive, but fact-finding. He said too that, “it is very important that any person or organization that could be a subject of an investigation should not lead that investigation.”
Gouveia emphasised that it would not mean that the agency could not be part of the investigation, “but you cannot lead that investigation.”  He related that it is extremely important to note that what would have happened, “20 and 30 years ago may not be relevant today.”
“The fact is that our law in Guyana, back then, did not disallow Civil Aviation from investigating; so as a matter of precedence, they did. But in modern-day thinking and with the separation of powers, it is very important that civil aviation separate themselves from that conflict of interest activity – of active investigation – because they themselves could be a subject of investigation.”
Captain Gouveia explained that, for example, if it is believed that they (GCAA) had been delinquent in the oversight that they provided to the system; whether it is pilots; maintenance etc., they themselves could be investigated.
He continued that it is very important that an independent accident investigator and investigation unit, like in other parts of the world, is devised. But more importantly, he noted, even as the investigation is ongoing, “the Civil Aviation Authority should stay at arm’s length from that investigation.”
He said that agency can have their investigation, which is very different from a safety investigation.  With a safety investigation, he explained, civil aviation has all right to conduct checks etc. on a daily basis, but accident investigations are post-accident, “safety investigations happen before.”
The GCAA is the regulatory body in the local aviation sector. The agency’s safety regulations – role and functions of the Aviation Safety Regulation Directorate – are to ensure the “…safe conduct of all aviation activities in the Guyana’s airspace, and those conducted overseas by Guyana Air Operator Certificate Holders.”
The agency has stated that in carrying out its mandate, it is required to examine for competency, issue licences to, and monitor the performance of, all Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, conduct initial inspections and certification for, and provide continued surveillance of all Guyanese air operators wherever they may be operating.
It also conducts initial inspections and certification for, and provides continued surveillance and auditing of aerodrome and airport operators in Guyana, to ensure that national and international standards are maintained, while providing guidance for environmental protection.
The agency also assesses for approval, and then monitors, all training programmes used by Guyanese operators for pilots, cabin crew, maintenance personnel and Air Navigation Services personnel. It monitors the operations of all foreign operators in Guyanese airspace, and all Guyanese operators doing business overseas; to ensure that national and international standards are maintained, conducts investigations into incidents and accidents involving Guyana-registered aircraft, and foreign-registered aircraft in Guyanese airspace, carries out audits of maintenance organisations and issues/renews approvals therefor.
It also conducts initial inspections, registration, and airworthiness certification, as well as continued surveillance and annual re-inspection and recertification, for all Guyana-registered aircraft and maintains the Guyana Civil Aircraft Register and database of aircraft accidents and incidents. GCAA also provides oversight regulation and surveillance for aerial work done by Guyana-registered aircraft, or by foreign-registered aircraft operating in Guyana.

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