Latest update May 14th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 30, 2008 News
A lightning strike leading to a lengthy blackout, an outdated and overheating generator along with faulty battery backups last evening led to the complete shut down of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Efforts by technicians and controllers stationed in the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) tower at the airport averted disaster when an approaching Sky Services aircraft almost ran off the runway.
Reports reaching Kaieteur News stated that at about 14:15 hrs yesterday there was a thunderstorm in the area, which knocked out the electricity.
On routine the GCAA generator kicked in but at about 16:15 hrs the generator shut down.
A source close to the airport operations last evening told Kaieteur News that the incident involving Sky Services aircraft was ‘frightening.’
Recalling the events leading up to the almost chaotic experience, the source said that the generator had been cutting off all afternoon as a result of overheating.
“Whenever there is a blackout the generator provides electricity to the runway lights. So Sky Services was coming in and everything was running smooth. The pilot was given his final clearance and upon his final approach the entire system shut down,” the source said.
According to the source, the pilot immediately went back into the air and the landing was declared a ‘mis-approach.’
“Everybody panic. We thought that this plane would have gone off the runway but the pilot had he head on. This thing was scary,” the source said.
Kaieteur News was told that the pilot was advised that his other alternative landing was at Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados.
Following a short wait, GCAA technicians managed to get the generator restarted and lights returned to the runway.
“The pilot was advised to approach again and the plane landed safely. ‘Thank God’ was the first thing that came out of my mouth,” the source said.
Meanwhile, a technician told Kaieteur News that GCAA was advised some months ago to ‘get rid’ of the generator, which was deemed ‘outdated’ by the maintaining company.
“After the generator went out the battery back systems and all went down. It was total madness. The technicians are cannibalising to keep the system at this airport in operation,” the source said.
This total shut down at the airport led to the cancellation of Caribbean Airlines and Zoom flights, which were scheduled to arrive last night.
Kaieteur News was told that Zoom landed in Trinidad where passengers were forced to overnight.
Only a few weeks ago lightning stuck the tower and damaged equipment.
To add to the situation, the source said that the main navigation equipment room was vandalised.
Up to press time, technicians and staff of Guyana Power and Light were still trying to get the system up and running.
Planes passing over Guyana, however, still managed to get clearance from the controllers at the CJIA.
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