Pilot suspended as ASL allowed to resume Matthews Ridge operations

Domestic carrier, Air Services Limited (ASL), has been allowed to resume operations to Matthews Ridge in Region One (Barima-Waini) – days after it was suspended from flying to that interior location by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) over an incident at the runway on Sunday.

Speaking with this publication today, ASL Chairman Ahamad Mazahar Ally, explained that the pilot involved in the incident has been suspended for one month.

He added ASL has been ordered to ensure all flights to Matthews Ridge are conducted by a senior pilot.

The incident in questioned involved a plane encroaching onto the construction site at the Matthews Ridge runway.

But Ally is maintaining that “the incident, what they’re claiming, never occurred”.

GCAA, in a statement on Thursday, justified its decision to temporarily suspend the operations amid an investigation.

The GCAA previously issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advising pilots to exercise heightened caution during approach, landing, and take-off at the Mathews Ridge runway, which is currently undergoing upgrades.

Upon completion, the upgraded Matthews Ridge airstrip will measure 4,000 feet in length and 80 feet in width, featuring a reinforced eight-inch-thick pavement.

The project is currently being executed by a workforce of over 60 residents from the village.

Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill had previously noted that the $800 million upgrade will elevate the facility to a Tier 1 aviation hub, capable of handling capacity equivalent to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle.

Matthew’s Ridge serves as a vital transportation hub for the manganese mining community and surrounding villages. The new runway is expected to strengthen regional connectivity, support economic expansion, and drastically improve access to essential services for residents.