Tower Air venture to Guyana hits another snag
CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of New Age Air Services, Mr Harry Siew has set a tentative date of February 11, 2000 for the inaugural flight by `Tower Air' to Guyana. But he said the realisation depends on the upgrading of the current classification rating of Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, from seven to eight, by positioning another fire tender at the terminal. Siew, who flew here last week Wednesday evening for a meeting with Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr Anthony Xavier, told the Chronicle the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has put in place new rules, effective January 1, 2000, which specify that D 747 aircraft can only land at airports in the eight category. In the circumstances, Siew said he has offered to "do whatever possible" to assist the Guyana Government in getting Timehri upgraded. He said he informed Xavier that Tower Air is unable to accept the current Government offer to operate charters from New York via Trinidad, from December 3 to 31. Siew said, after they advertised in the United States, 95.5 per cent of the prospective passengers indicated they wanted to return on or before January 7. "That would have put us in a tight spot, as our permission to fly expires on December 31," he explained, pointing out that they could not guarantee the trip back. Permission for New Age to come here had been withheld for several months to facilitate a determination of the runway's Pavement Classification Number (PCN) and whether it can withstand a 747 aircraft with maximum load of 400,000 pounds. In an invited comment, Xavier said Siew had expressed an interest in operating to a schedule and was advised of the procedure. However, the minister said he would be making efforts to acquire the additional fire tender for Cheddi Jagan Airport, "possibly" in January.
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