The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched an investigation into Sunday afternoon’s near miss involving a LIAT aircraft which was inbound to the Cheddi Jagan Inter-national Airport (CJIA), Timehri and a Learjet which had minutes earlier departed the airport for Jamaica.
Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn told this newspaper last evening that an investigation has been launched into the incident, after which required action will be taken against whatever party is found to be at fault.
This, he said, is a normal procedure which the GCAA would take whenever such incidents occur.
Stabroek News understands that a senior member of the GCAA stationed at Timehri was on duty at the time of the incident in which the LIAT aircraft’s pilot had to take drastic evasive action to avoid colliding with the Learjet.
Her air traffic control licence has since been suspended pending the investigation. A source told this newspaper that the matter is also engaging the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Reports are that around 2 pm on Sunday, the LIAT aircraft was proceeding to CJIA when it came within hundreds of feet of the Learjet.
There have been several near misses at the airport in recent years.
On Saturday, an Air Services Limited plane made an emergency landing at Baganara after one of its engines failed.
Until the right expertise is put in the position, there will always be mishaps like this.
How can a outgoing aircraft be on the same flight path as the other aircraft inbound. I just dont get it. Did the Learjet Pilot read back his instructions,was he aware of in bound traffic.
They will be is the same flight level for they are in the same hemispheric range, one indound the other outbound, however I wonder what ever happened to TCAS/ACAS systems on both aircraft.Not sure if the air traffic radar monitor is equiped with labelling capabilities so that the Air Traffic Controller can redily see the difference in altitudes of aircrafts.
Could this have been one of the many accidents waiting to happen at CJIA??
I suspect the Lear Jet may have been equipted with TCAS though, since it’s a requirement for flying in US airspace.
The procedures at the airport needs to updated. The last time I visited the tower, most of the equipment were outdated. We also need to have standard procedures for aircraft flying in and out. There are visual fligh rules in place, but the controllers do very little except monitor the airways. There is limited controlling going on. When atrcraft are within the control zone (normally 25 miles) they need to be reporting to an active controller who is familar with the terrain, and can alert pilots of activity in the area.
Was this one of those accidents waiting to happen at CJIA?? I suspect the Lear might have been equipted with TCAS, which is a requirement for flying in US airspace
This is crazy. Pilot230 has a point about the flight path; it is hard to believe that with just about 4 flights day that these kind of lapses occurrs. Other big airpots have hundreds of flights a day and this seldom happens. But then again if you are inviting people with 3 subjects CXC to apply for these jobs what else do you expect. I was told that one of the Caricom Head of State was on the Learjet.
Once again the people with the Money Bag are excited about the situation that they know exist at CJIA. The fact is that in this day and age, one wonders why in a state with so much land, there is not at least one runway for departure and another for landing. I remember when the Ogle air strip was surveyed with the view of converting it into an international airport. The conclusion was that there were too many trenches that would need to be addressed. The technology is available to develop the airport but the Money Bag is not open for that project, nor is it open to upgrade the existing airport technologically. One wonders when will Guyanese make the Judases (Money Bag Holders) accountable. Politicians will not punish politicians, they all hold on to the BAG.
I got your point Pal but no need for two runways with only an average of four Intl flights per day.Assign proper Airways to out going and inboun flights.Invest in radar coverage for Country,any one can fly in and out of that Country and the jokers dont know a darn thing.Or could it be they dont want to know.
If this is happening often, why wasn’t it investegated before? was it because their was somebody more important than me on the plane? I taught we were all born with the same equal right.
Doesn’t SYCJ follow the circuit procedure? In the article it said the LIAT Dash8 was inbound; does that mean it was on downwind, base or final…which one? It didn’t give too much specifics however; I think this near incident might have happened beyond the circuit but in the control zone. We don’t know the year the lear was manufactured but I’m pretty sure it has TCAS on board.
Regardless, someone should have been monitoring the airspace and should have been aware as to altitude, direction, speed and separation of these two aircrafts. How these two ended up on the same course at the same altitude is beyond me.
I just love the reactive approach of the GCAA. It’s histerical, that’s all I can say.
17 flights per day at timehri ? I know that Airport better than you do ,i grow up in the area went to school in the area worked at the Airport for 5 yrs before i left to attend flight school,and fly in and out as a ATP/Air Transport Pilot for one of the US Airlines get your facts correct Pal.
there is a reason why the words went and worked are called past participles. IT MEANS ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE PAST. that said, i am here, living and working arround and at that same airport. not living in the states and comenting on things that i don’t.
however for freedom from identification i will not specify or list my credentials like you.
It is unbelievable that as a Guyanese, username- peppie thinks that there are only 4 flights per day in our airspace. it just goes to show that very little is known about aviation in this country of ours. Although it was a tragic event, and one that i know VERY little about i feel the need to correct some misunderstandings.
1. They are approximately 10-17 arrivals and departures from our airport on a regular day.
2. The area designated for arrivals and departure experiences approximately 30-45 over flights.
3. That is 45 + 17. Do the maths.
4. criticizing the employer for hiring individuals with just 3 subject CXC, is totally out of place. i know of INDIVIDUALS with degrees from UG being hired and failing to pass even the basic tests required for such a field.
If UG students are failing the test and CXC students have to be trained, I can imagine!!!!! Guyana has gone DUMB and there is not a BRAIN-DRAIN situation but all the BRAINS have been DRAINED into the GUTTERS along with the NAME and PRIDE of the Guyanese. Joe, Samaroo,Evil,Borapork and the whole lot of you intelligent guys should put aside your political differences and work together to improve our beloved country.
ps.
dont fuget fu teck Bisbattie wid yaäl….I gun follow lay-ta if dem Brain-Box go home back
pps.
Bis. like yuh friken fuh put yu name now, U goin on WITH-HELD or should I say ANN-NON-E-MUST!!!!!!
SANDMAN IS WEAH YUH DEAH? A DUZ MISS U