Persons urged to show greater care, responsibility on hinterland airstrips after rocks found on runway at Lethem

See below statement:

AVIATION OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF GUYANA APPEALS FOR GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF HINTERLAND AIRSTRIPS

The Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) is urgently appealing to all citizens, community leaders, drivers, motorcyclists, farmers, miners, and residents across the hinterland to exercise greater care, awareness, and responsibility in and around the nation’s airstrips and runways.

Aviation remains the lifeline of Guyana’s hinterland communities. Aircraft providing critical transportation for residents, medical evacuations, delivery of food and supplies, education support, tourism, mining operations, and emergency services. For many communities, the airstrip is the only reliable connection to the rest of the country.

Unlike major international airports, the majority of Guyana’s hinterland runways are short, narrow, and unpaved. Pilots operating into these locations already work with limited safety margins, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Every foot of usable runway matters, and every hazard introduced onto a runway increases the risk of a serious accident.

The Association continues to receive reports of dangerous and irresponsible activities occurring on and around airstrips across the country. These include:

* Motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians crossing runways in front of approaching or departing aircraft.

* Bottles, debris, and other foreign objects being left on runway surfaces.

* Stones, and other obstacles being deliberately or inadvertently placed on runways.

* Persons using runways as public roads or shortcuts.

* Damage to runway shoulders and surfaces caused by repeated vehicle traffic, resulting in ruts, erosion, and narrowing of the usable runway area.

* Encroachment and deterioration that effectively shorten already limited landing distances.

* Persons including Law Enforcement Officers playing games on active runways.

These actions may appear harmless to some, but they create serious hazards for pilots, passengers, and communities. A single bottle, stone, rut, or unexpected vehicle crossing can cause a loss of aircraft control, a propeller strike, a blown tire, structural damage, or a catastrophic accident.

The consequences of such incidents are often irreversible. They can result in serious injury, loss of life, destruction of aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars, disruption of essential services, and long-term impacts on communities that depend on aviation.

The public is reminded that under Guyana’s current Civil Aviation Regulations, interference with aviation operations and unsafe actions on or around aerodromes attracts severe penalties. Offenders may face fines amounting to millions of dollars and imprisonment for up to three years, depending on the nature and severity of the offence.

Beyond the legal consequences, irresponsible use of runways drives up operating costs throughout the aviation sector. Aircraft damage, maintenance expenses, delays, cancellations, insurance claims, and infrastructure repairs ultimately increase the cost of providing air services to hinterland communities. Every preventable incident reduces the safety margins available to pilots and passengers and places additional strain on an industry that serves as a critical national resource.

The Aviation Operators Association of Guyana therefore calls upon all citizens to:

* Treat every runway and airstrip as an active aviation facility.

* Never drive, ride, walk, or loiter on a runway unless authorized.

* Keep runways free of bottles, stones, debris, animals, and other hazards.

* Report unsafe activities to local authorities and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

* Educate family members, employees, and community residents about runway safety.

* Work collectively to preserve and protect aviation infrastructure in every region of Guyana.

Runway safety is not solely the responsibility of pilots, operators, or regulators. It is a shared national responsibility. Every citizen has a role to play in ensuring that aircraft can operate safely and reliably throughout our country.

The Association urges all stakeholders, including village councils, community leaders, miners, loggers, businesses, schools, and residents, to support a nationwide culture of aviation safety and respect for our airstrips.

Together, we can prevent accidents, protect lives, preserve vital infrastructure, and ensure that Guyana’s aviation sector continues to safely connect our people and communities.

**END**