Flight fears

by BARRY ALLEYNE

LIAT PILOTS say they are worried that lack of regular maintenance on the planes could eventually place travellers in danger.

A source close to the pilots' association said yesterday that a number of the company's Dash-8 aircraft had suffered "in-flight" failures over the past six weeks, and pilots were worried.

Twice last month LIAT pilots reported nose-gear failures from their cockpits while making landings on two separate flights.

In the first instance on June 24, a Dash-8, registration Victor 2 Lima Lima Golf Golf, landing at 7:20 p.m. in Antigua, reported nose-gear failure and an emergency crew was called out at the V.C. Bird International Airport.

A successful landing was made.

Two days later, pilots on another Dash-8 flight, Lima Golf India, reported a similar problem while attempting an early morning landing in Martinique. That landing was also successful.

The pilots say that both planes are still in use today.

But LIAT corporate communications manager Desmond Brown said yesterday that LIAT was fully aware of all the incidents on each of those occasions, and the aircraft were grounded until the discrepancies were resolved.

"In all the instances the reported nose-gear defects have been rectified before being released back to service," he added.

In addition, an independent mechanical engineer told the SUNDAY SUN that there are certain "faults" that aircraft can have and still be fit to fly and be safe.

But the pilots say they are still concerned.

"We don't want to create a panic throughout the Caribbean, but these incidents have the pilots very worried and we feel LIAT should do something about it instantly," said one pilot representative.

In response, Brown said an investigation was ongoing and that safety remained the company's top priority, and that affected aircraft were grounded and repairs immediately done.

"There was never any failure of the nose gear. There were abnormalities during landing-gear extensions. LIAT is fully aware of all the incidents," Brown told the SUNDAY SUN.

In addition, Brown claimed no emergencies had been declared during either incident.

"In relation to suggestions that the existing problems could lead to a fatal crash, it should be pointed out that on a few occasions the gear did not extended normally, but was lowered quite satisfactorily using an alternative method.

"On another occasion, although the landing gear had extended and locked down normally, there was a faulty indication that it had not, and the alternative extension procedure had to be carried out in the interest of safety."

LIAT currently uses about 15 Dash-8 aircraft to service the region.

LIAT acquired the Dash-8 aircraft in 1985, but by industry standards that does not mean old.

"The age of the aircraft has absolutely no bearing on these incidents. LIAT's approved maintenance programme is as required by the aircraft manufacturer and includes an ageing aircraft inspection Programme," the company confirmed yesterday.

Pilots say, however, that one of their concerns is that problems are exacerbated by the airline's constant island-hopping schedule, which quickens wear and tear on the planes.

In the past months, LIAT pilots and management have been at loggerheads over pay. In May, the company sought a court injunction to prevent industrial action by the pilots.

* barryalleyne@nationnews.com