GCAA lifts suspension of ASL flights to Matthews Ridge

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 March 2026, 22:59 by Writer

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has lifted the suspension of Air Services Limited’s (ASL) flights to Matthews Ridge, North West District, but the domestic carrier wants to be part of the regulator’s investigation.

“Based on the information currently available, the Authority has determined that the suspension of flight operations into Matthews Ridge Aerodrome is hereby lifted,” GCAA Director General Retired Lt. Col. Egbert Field told ASL’s Accountable Manager, Tarick Ramnarace on March 25.

The GCAA Director-General, however, directed that “with immediate effect” all ASL’s flight operations into Matthews Ridge Aerodrome must be “conducted only by senior pilots pending the completion of the Authority’s investigation.”

Lt. Col. Field said the GCAA’s decision was based on a preliminary investigation into the reported occurrence in relation to the landing of ASL’s aircraft, bearing registration marking 8R-GAS, at the Matthews Ridge aerodrome on March 22, 2026,”

The ASL Accountable Manager has since replied to the GCAA Director General requesting that ASL representatives be part of the investigation since the image of the domestic airline, which he said has a high safety record is at stake.

“Given that ASL’s operational reputation is directly affected by these findings, we formally request to be an active part of the ongoing investigation process. We believe a transparent, collaborative review will quickly verify the facts and bring this matter to a swift resolution,” he said.

Captain Ramnarace maintained that ASL had concrete information that it was not involved in the alleged incident. He said the carrier was being wrongfully blamed and was ready to participate in a “joint review of the data”. “We have clear, verifiable evidence demonstrating that ASL was not involved in the reported incident. It is deeply concerning to our organization that we have been falsely implicated in this matter,” he said.

Expressing deep concern about “ongoing restrictions” placed on ASL’s operations and its name being linked to that occurrence, Captain Ramnarace sought clarification from the GCAA on the scope of the pending investigation.

He asked about the aspects of the probe that were pending regarding ASL “given the evidence that our company was not involved.”

He also told the GCAA Head that ASL was eager to present its evidence and collaborate with the regulator’s team to “correct the record and remove any operational restrictions on our flight crews.”

Sources said an ASL official had already flown to Matthews Ridge by helicopter and found no evidence that the plane landed on a construction site, contrary to claims by the contractor.

Among the findings on that recent visit, according to sources, was that a tyre mark on a concrete slab should have been severely damaged if the plane had been on it.

Passengers had also disputed the claims by the contractor, the sources said.