Lone working GDF helicopter during MV Barima tragedy cannot fly offshore

Last Updated on Saturday, 17 October 2026, 17:09 by Writer

A brand new US$5.9 million helicopter that was acquired by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) almost one year ago was the lone serviceable chopper when the MV Barima ferry sank three months ago, but could not fly offshore because of limitations, senior army officers told the Commission of Inquiry (COI).

“ As was captured in my log, on the 19th (July 2026), only one helicopter was used up until the 27th, because that was the only service of a helicopter at the time and it so happened to have been a single-engine aircraft,” Air Corps Flight Operations Officer Captain Simon Gordon told the presidential COI. 

Mr Gordon declined to speculate why the Bell 407 helicopter was confined to the coast and preferred to leave the reasons to the helicopter pilots, only saying that the multi-engine aircraft provides more range, more operating time and “allows us to go further offshore.”

“If one engine fails, the aircraft can still fly. If it’s a single-engine aircraft and that engine fails, then that produces another casualty or a non-enjoyable situation,” he told the five-member COI. 

He also deferred questions about why the other two helicopters — a Bell 412 and Bell 429 — were not “deployable” or “unserviceable” to the maintenance management department.

The Bell 429 helicopter was bought for US$10.1 million.

Helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Langevine told the COI that he flew the Bell 407 helicopter on July 22, 24 and 25.

The first flight was along the coast from Hampton Court to Waini Point to look for survivors or bodies.

He explained the limitations of that single-engine rotorcraft.

“The Bell 407, being a single-engine aircraft, operates with limitations as it relates to going offshore. That aircraft is not certified to fly offshore unless there are certain parameters that can be met in terms of glide, distance and operational capability. As far as the night operations go, that is also a limitation for the single-engine Bell 407 aircraft,” he said.

Mr Langevine, however, said the aircraft was fitted with a searchlight to conduct a search on the first night.

He said no binoculars were used during the “low and slow” flights about 20 to 40 feet above ground and he and his co-pilot could have safely spotted bodies about three nautical miles away, but the focus was more on the coastline because they were informed that most of the bodies were being washed ashore.