Kaieteur News December 18, 2004....

Another Pie-in-the-sky  Dream....

Crash before take off

Guyana broke new ground yesterday when Guyanese-owned Rotorway International Guyana launched the first ever helicopter to be assembled in Guyana .
The business venture, headed by Rotorway's President, US-based Guyanese Lynden Armogan, took a mere five and a half months to literally take off—the negotiations with Government having started in July.
The two-seater aircraft is being assembled in Guyana by Guyanese and will be marketed locally, in the Caribbean and South America .
Rotorway is registered in Guyana and its parent company is the US-based LA Business Enterprise.
Armogan told the gathering at the National Cultural Centre that his intention is to contribute to improve the economy of his home country.
He indicated that his business interests in Guyana are much more than just within the aviation sector.
Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Chabeenanan Ramphul, made the observation that the assembly and certification of the 162 F helicopter marks a new functional activity of the GCAA.
Ramphul described the helicopter as being an experimental aircraft or what the GCAA terms “amateur-built aircraft” from factory kits.
The helicopter would not be allowed for commercial operations, only for private flying.
Ramphul noted that the GCAA now has to regulate the assembly and testing of the helicopter as well as ensuring that the people who assemble and fly it are properly regulated and monitored.
This entails ensuring that the parts and components are properly received, listed and put together.
The aircraft instruments must be genuine parts authorized for installation.
It also means that proper assembly procedures are followed and the recording of the assembly is maintained.
Pilots who fly the helicopter in Guyana must be regulated to ensure safety of operations, and guidance will be provided to them for safe flying in Guyana 's airspace.
Ramphul said the GCAA took up the challenge and has provided guidance to Rotorway which allowed for the new industry to operate within adequate norms and industry practice.
He assured that sufficient procedures have been developed to allow for the sale of the helicopter in other countries in the region.
In officially launching the helicopter, Prime Minister Sam Hinds described it as being an exciting day for Guyana , since the operation could give some impetus to the country becoming a place where assembly-type operations could flourish.
“With the small number of people in the country and the limited spending power, we should not only think about building from scratch but also doing assembly from factory kits,” he said.
The Prime Minister implored upon the Guyanese people to develop a change in attitude from continuously casting blame on the government for shortcomings.
He stated that the people need to examine ways in which they could contribute towards ideas to achieve economic upliftment such as the Rotorway venture.
He alluded to the Singapore model where the country pitched itself as having a German-type workforce to provide services for two-thirds of the cost.
Guyana could reach to that stage where services could be provided for half the price, he posited.
He pointed out that Guyana has to improve on its traditional products and add new lines for the market.
The Prime Minister noted that even though the GDP has doubled over the past ten years, Guyana is still close to the bottom of the ladder when compared to the neighboring countries.
“It is a challenge, but we are as good as those in countries like the US and the UK ,” he said. “We need to think of an economy that is ten times what it is today. It seems disconcerting but we can do it.”
Hinds congratulated Rotorway on its venture into new territory for Guyana .
He stated that the Guyanese people could benefit greatly if the lessons are learnt in bringing such a venture to fruition

Following the crash of the Rotorway Guyana Incorporated Exec 162 helicopter in January 2005, the GCAA had recommended to all domestic carriers that pilots must follow instruction in the Pilot Operating Handbook with specific regard to the use of a calibrated dip hose to verify accuracy of fuel gauge readings. That accident took place at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara because the aircraft ran out of fuel.....and fell into the Ocean by the seawall. According to the report, the pilot, Michael Charles was reminded that it was his responsibility to ensure that all recommendations were complied with.