Dear Editor,
I wish to respond to a letter by Donald Lindee in the Kaieteur News of Friday November 7, 2008, captioned, ‘The child’s claim must be fully investigated,’ which referred to the Kaieteur News report of Thursday November 6, 2008 on the child’s report of sighting the missing aircraft.
I must state that at the press briefing on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, I clearly stated that the child’s report of sighting the missing aircraft in the vicinity of Imbaimadai was thoroughly investigated, since after the report was received the entire area was comprehensively searched by the two British helicopters. I also informed the media at the briefing that another report from a miner who heard an aircraft in the area also triggered a comprehensive search by the helicopters which were operating in that area for the entire day.
I must emphasize that when conducting search operations every report of a sighting is investigated, and no report is considered too trivial. I did say that an aircraft executing a sharp turning manoeuvre can appear to be “falling out of the sky” once it disappears from view.
We cannot be held responsible for some reporters not reporting accurately or omitting pertinent information in their reports.
Yours faithfully,
Z Mohamed
Director General
Guyana Civil Aviation
Authority
I would like to know why no search was started on the Saturday evening of the crash. Although an aircraft and pilots were on standby to do so.
To initiate a search by aircraft as soon as possible, especially at night when fires can more easily be seen and ELT/radio signals might be more easily received due to better atmospheric conditions is of the utmost importance.
Time is of the essence in a search and rescue – you can never, never, never sit around and wait unless the weather is a safety factor!!
SSDD