Dear Editor,
It has become a matter of urgency to review the operational aspects of the local airline industry to determine whether it is meeting its obligations to users in a satisfactory manner.
Initially, when the idea of forming and operating a local air service was mentioned a promise of providing a better, more reliable service at a cheaper rate was made.
I suspect from what I have seen that there is an internal arrangement with the service providers and a ‘zoning’ system is in effect. In this zoning, it seems that Air Services Ltd. (ASL) has been zoned Regions 8 and 9.
But the services of ASL leave much to be desired, there has been a steady decline both qualitatively and in deliverables. I once travelled in an aircraft that was heavily scented with raw beef. My experiences with this service can be summarized as unreliable, not punctual, not dependable and shoddy treatment of passengers.
ASL shuttles goods to locations in the region. On several occasions myself and other passengers were shuttled from one location to another and had to wait for long periods. Very often passengers from Orinduik, Paramakatoi, Kurukubaru and Kato are left at Mahdia for hours without any shelter or seating accommodation while waiting for transportation to Ogle.
Around December 07 about five of us embarked on an aircraft (ASL) and had to be seated on the floor and on boxes/bags in the aircraft for a journey to Mahdia where we were dumped like carcasses. No safety regulations were in place.
On Sunday 16.3.08, a number of passengers who had already paid to be transported to Ogle from Kaieteur Falls and Kato were left stranded until Thursday 20.03.08. When the arrangements and subsequent payments were made, no conditions, explanation or provisos were attached or printed on the tickets regarding the delay or cancellation of the flight arrangement.
While we were marooned, ASL aircraft were seen flying and the conversations that were overheard on the radio set justified my conclusion that ASL is not delivering a proper service. Perhaps a “de-zoning” might work, the public needs a better service.
Yours faithfully,
Festus George
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Air Services Ltd for their comments and received the following response from Mr Fazel Khan, the General Manager:
“Thank you for the opportunity to respond to a letter sent by a reader complaining of the services of Air Services Limited.
First of all, there is absolutely no zoning of operations; all operators are free to fly to any aerodrome within Guyana. Generally, the decisions as to routes are based on the type(s) of aircraft used by the company and the nature of the airstrips. Air Service Limited does not operate into Region 9 or 1 on a regular basis. We only do charters occasionally. Our main areas of operation are Regions 7 and 8.
A few years ago, we took a decision to operate into all the aerodromes in Region 8 to facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo. Most people would be surprised to know that ASL operates into twenty seven (27) airstrips in Region 8, twenty-four on a scheduled basis. Many of these airstrips are very small and can only accommodate the Cessna 206 aircraft type, which, apart from ASL’s, only one such aircraft operates commercially in Guyana. That is why we are kind of “stuck” in Region 8. Of course we could have decided to operate only into the main airstrips e.g. Mahdia, Kaieteur, Kato, Orinduik etc; but we didn’t. We operate into airstrips that most Guyanese have never heard of e.g. Kamana, Tussennen, Tappa, Yewang, Yarung Paru, Chiung Mouth, Toruka, Eagles Mare, Meril etc. Many of these airstrips cannot accommodate the full payload of the aircraft.
We accept bookings into and out of all locations. Our standard weekly service into Region 8 is three trips. However, most weeks we do four or five. Sometimes we go into an aerodrome to off-load or pick-up just one passenger. The actual routes and sometimes the aircraft type can only be decided on the afternoon before the flight. Scheduling is very difficult.
Because of the above, we often have to move passengers from various locations to Mahdia where they wait. This is not unusual as it is done by most international airlines. The problem in Guyana is adequate waiting area. Of all the airstrips mentioned in Region 8, only one i.e. Kaieteur has a place where passengers can wait under a shed. Most of the aerodromes are owned by Government.
Despite that, ASL applied a couple of years ago for a piece of land near to the airstrip at Mahdia to erect a large shed were we can do maintenance to our aircraft when necessary and a place for passengers to rest. The last time I spoke with the Regional Chairman, Mr Bell, he said that the application was approved but we had to wait for the survey to be done and documentation. As soon as we have that, we will commence construction of a building where passengers can be comfortable.
Shuttling is important in the area. Cargo goes to Mahdia by road and is then shuttled by aircraft to various locations in the region. Mahdia is 300 feet above sea level. The rest of Region 8, comprising mainly of the Pakaraima mountain range averages 2000 feet above sea level. There are no main roads in the Pakaraimas.
About passengers having to sit on the floor, this is not only illegal, but totally unacceptable to ASL. I promise to investigate.
As to passengers being left stranded for days at Kaieteur, my investigations found that it was partly an error by ASL (1 day) and mainly by very bad weather which prevented us from operating into the area. Up to the third week of March (just before the test cricket match started) there were unusually heavy rains in the interior and also on the Coast. Many flights had to be cancelled, including tourist flights to Kaieteur and Orinduik. What the passengers saw at Kaieteur was aircraft operating within the area. This does not mean that an aircraft can leave Ogle for an area where the minimum safe altitude is 6000 feet. I even mentioned this sometime ago to one passenger. I do not know how the passengers were able to monitor the conversations on the radio but unless one is very sure of what is happening, interpreting the communication can be very difficult.
In conclusion, Sir, let me say that operation into Region 8 is extremely difficult. ASL has embarked on a noble task of servicing every single aerodrome in the Region. This will result in inconvenience to passengers. We apologize for such inconvenience. On most occasions, there is hardly anything that we can do; when we can, we will certainly make every effort to give satisfaction.”
