GCAA Suspends ASL Pilot License After Matthews Ridge Runway Incident

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended the license privileges of a pilot from Air Services Limited (ASL) following a runway overrun incident. The event occurred on February 26, 2026, at the Matthews Ridge Airport (IATA: MWJ, ICAO: SYMR) in Region One and involved a Cessna 208 Caravan registered as 8R-GCB. The GCAA's action is pending the outcome of a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

According to a statement from the regulatory body, the aircraft landed on the prepared runway surface but overran onto an unprepared area, resulting in a punctured tire. The GCAA’s preliminary report indicates that the pilot operated outside the provisions of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on October 23, 2025. The NOTAM advised pilots to exercise “heightened caution” due to ongoing upgrades at the airstrip. The incident was one of two that occurred at the same location on the same day; a second event involved a Jags Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan with registration 8R-KAB.

Regulatory Response and Precedent

The suspension of a pilot's license pending an investigation is standard procedure for the GCAA, which was established in March 2002 through the Civil Aviation Act (2000). The authority is responsible for managing and regulating all aspects of the aviation sector in Guyana. The action aligns with precedents set in previous safety events.

In an April 2025 statement regarding a near-miss incident, GCAA Director General, Lt. Col. (Ret'd) Egbert Fields, clarified the agency's protocol. “All parties involved in the incident had their licences suspended because you don't know what has taken place, who's culpable, and who was not compliant. The standard rule is to suspend all licenses until we get a preliminary report. Depending on that report, we can determine whose suspension should be lifted.” This policy underscores the GCAA's focus on maintaining safety standards during the investigative process.

Context: Hinterland Airstrip Development

The Matthews Ridge runway incident occurred amidst a significant infrastructure project. The Guyanese government is upgrading the airstrip into a 4,000-foot long, 80-foot wide Tier 1 aviation hub. These hinterland airstrip upgrades are critical for improving connectivity to remote communities and supporting key economic sectors such as mining. However, conducting flight operations at airfields undergoing construction presents unique operational challenges.

Air Services Limited (ASL) is a key operator in the region, providing essential transport for passengers and cargo into Guyana's interior. According to data from IDB Invest, the airline operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, including helicopters, and transports over 50,000 passengers annually. Its fleet includes rugged aircraft like the Cessna Grand Caravan, Britten Norman Islander, and Cessna 206, which are well-suited for the challenging terrain. ASL also operates its own GCAA-approved Flight Training School to develop local pilots.

This incident is not isolated in Guyana's recent aviation history. The country has previously experienced more severe runway excursions, including a Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 in 2011 and a Fly Jamaica Boeing 757 in 2018. These events highlight the persistent challenges associated with aviation operations in the region.

Next Steps

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will proceed with a comprehensive investigation into both the ASL and Jags Aviation incidents at Matthews Ridge. The suspended ASL pilot’s license will remain inactive until the investigation concludes and a final determination is made regarding compliance and culpability. The findings of the report will likely inform future operational procedures and safety oversight, particularly for flights into airfields with active NOTAMs related to construction. Meanwhile, the crucial upgrade work at Matthews Ridge is expected to continue as planned.

Why This Matters

This incident and the subsequent regulatory action highlight the inherent tension between advancing critical infrastructure and maintaining aviation safety in remote operational environments. For airlines like ASL, it underscores the importance of strict adherence to temporary operational notices such as NOTAMs. For the GCAA, it serves as a public enforcement of its safety mandate, signaling to all operators that non-compliance with published procedures will result in immediate consequences, especially in high-risk situations like landings at construction-affected airfields.

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