Skyvan crash
Pilot still recovering overseas
Stabroek News
January 25, 2004
Trans Guyana Airways Pilot Sarvepaul Persaud is continuing to recuperate in the United States, where he was flown days after the November 8, 2003 crash, which killed two persons and injured several others.
Persaud is receiving therapy for injuries suffered in the Skyvan crash and is continuing to do well, TGA Operations Director, Captain Roy Jainandan told Stabroek News on Tuesday.
According to Jainandan, who was recently in Florida to check on Persaud's progress, he is expected to return home as soon as he completes his course of treatment.
Meanwhile co-Pilot Noel Bhiro Persaud who received minor injuries in the accident has already resumed duties and has recommenced flying. "He is back in the air and doing well," the TGA Operations Director told this newspaper.
TGA employee Premchand Arjoon 33, of Lot 33 Annandale North, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and passenger Rondel Mannie of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Others injured were passengers Clive Mannie, 28, of 132 Atlantic Gardens, ECD; Randolph Charles, 48, of South Ruimveldt Gardens and Brian Blair, 43, of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara.
Preliminary investigations into the crash cited engine failure as a probable cause of the mid-morning crash which sent scores of residents from the Sophia community along with rescue personnel to the scene.
Jainandan, on Tuesday, again hailed the heroic efforts of residents, particularly those in the Sophia area, who assisted on the day of the accident and subsequently.
The company has already commenced processing insurance claims from relatives of the deceased and the injured, Jainandan confirmed. He anticipated there would be no problem in relation to this.
The loss of a craft has not caused any major disruptions in TGA's service as the company has used the opportunity to consolidate its fleet and review operations, the company's operations director said. This, he said, showed there was no immediate need for a replacement aircraft, since different structures have been put in place to ensure that the company's commitments are met.
Meanwhile, local investigators are also still evaluating the downed craft's engine. Probe Team Head and GCAA Airworthiness Inspector Clifton Bedaysie said that a report had been received following evaluation of the engines, but further laboratory analysis is necessary to narrow the findings, which will form the basis of the final report. This report, apart from thoroughly analysing the cause of the crash, will make recommendations aimed at avoiding a similar occurrence, Bedaysie said.
A preliminary report has been compiled, containing all data gathered so far, and this was forwarded to Transport Minister Anthony Xavier, and aviation bodies overseas, Bedaysie told this newspaper on Friday.
Jainandan, too, said yesterday that he had travelled to Washington, to listen to transmissions from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which had been sent to the US Federal Aviation Administra-tion in that state for analysis after being retrieved from the crash site.
It was expected that data from this would assist investigators in their determination of the reason for the aircraft's rapid loss of altitude shortly after takeoff, which caused it to come down in the cane field.
Jainandan said that the crash, although tragic, had not significantly impacted on TGA's capacity to service the market. TGA is continuing to maintain strict controls on training and other programmes in keeping with the requirements of the industry, Jainandan said.
He praised the media's professional approach to reporting the facts and expressed thanks for the numerous commiserating calls.