Airline with accident on Dominica runway wants to operate in Guyana
A Sky Aviation aircraft after a bad landing ibn Dominica (Photo credit: Dominica Onlinenews)
Sky High Aviation which operates out of the Dominican Republic is seeking to have a license to operate here in Guyana.
This is according to a notice published in the local papers earlier this week by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority which has given stakeholders within the aviation industry and the general public to file in writing by April 06, 2021, any approval or objection to the airline’s operation in Guyana.
Back in 2019, Ae Jetstream JS-41 which is registered to and operated by Sky High Aviation from Santo Domingo (the Dominican Republic), to Dominica, landed on the Douglas Charles airport but veered off the runway, crossed-turn off of the runway leaving debris behind before coming to a stop with a collapsed front landing gear.
It was reported that one passenger suffered minor injuries while the others managed to escape the bad landing, unhurt. Aviation officials suggested back in 2019 that the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The GCAA in it’s notice said the airline seeks to operate a non-schedule service between Guyana and Dominica. It was also noted that the airline seeks to commence it’s service to Guyana in April of this year with a view of operation for an initial one-year period, three flights weekly.
Contacted on Friday evening, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill said that no approval has been given for the airline to operate in Guyana and that the process initiated by the GCAA by way of a public notice is just part and parcel of the SOP by the aviation authority whenever airlines express an interest in operating here.
The Public Works Minister who holds responsibility for the local aviation sector noted that the ministerial cabinet also has input in such decisions.
Edghill said in order for approval to be granted there are several things that need to be taken into consideration and those include but are not limited to; the posting of a bond, national security and respect for Guyanese and other passengers along with the history of the airline’s operations. “None of that has been discussed formally as yet” Minister Edghill explained.
BIG Smith News Watch reached out to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority for a record of the airline’s performance, safety and any other relevant details necessary since it commenced operations. Up to press time, we received no response to our email.
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority has monitoring responsibility for airlines and aircraft operating in some of the destinations that Sky High Aviation operates. Sky High flies to Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, St Kitts and Nevis and Colombia and also has chartered flights to Jamaica, St Eustatius and St Lucia.
