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Family seeks assistance to continue search for missing ASL crew
The family members of the Air Services Limited (ASL) crew that went missing over an interior jungle
The sign board erected to garner assistance to continue search efforts for the missing ASL crew
Region in late December are determined to keep up the search for their relatives. The pilot’s family in an unusual move has made a public appeal for funds to continue search and rescue efforts in the forested area where the flight disappeared.
Twenty-seven-year-old pilot, Captain Nicky Persaud and 51-year-old cargo handler David Bisnauth, were on a shuttle mission from Mahdia to Karisparu in the Potaro-Siparuni Region Eight when Air Traffic Controllers lost contact with the flight minutes after it had left Mahdia.
About 21 days of intense searches turned up empty when aviation authorities and volunteers embarked on the on search and rescue mission. Efforts were subsequently called off.
The pilot’s still distraught father, Cecil Persaud, told Kaieteur News yesterday, “We are not giving up.” He said that the family must make an effort to find his son and co-worker.
The information board erected at the southern end of the Main Street Avenue vows that the family will not give up until the men are found. The family has requested any assistance from public-spirited persons and has set up, also, a Facebook account providing information on how donations could be made.
Contact can be made with family members: Stephanie at 624-8257, Frank 624-3298, or Rainforest Tours 231-5661. Donations can also be made to Bank of Novia Scotia under account name ‘Search for missing aircraft Pilot Nicky Persaud and cargo handler David Bisnauth,’ account number 114594.
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Zulphicar Mohamed, said that it is the first time that family members have undertaken such a task to continue search efforts for a missing craft. Government agencies called off searches but Mohamed said that the body would try to provide financial and technical support when needed.
The area where search efforts are ongoing is very treacherous. The area is not only heavily forested and mountainous, but weather conditions can change from good to worst within minutes. Additionally, ground movement can also be difficult since there are limited waterways and no road access.
State rescue efforts were coordinated from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) at the Timehri Control Tower. It included the Ministry of Public Works; Ministry of Health; GCAA; Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); GDF Air Corps, the Guyana Police Force and private aviation company Air Services Ltd.
More than 230 hours were flown by the helicopters and fixed winged aircraft involved in the search.
They searched the Blackwater Creek basin, North Fork, Konawaruk River, Ebini, Eagle, Mowasi, Glendor Mountains, Kurungiku mountain range including “Toucan Face”, “Twin Towers” and Toucan Valley among other areas said to be in the flight path of the missing plane.
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