Guyana Defence Force aviation fleet details emerge in MV Barima inquiry

During a Commission of Inquiry regarding the MV Barima ferry tragedy, officials provided details on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) aviation response. Captain Simon Gordon, a flight operations officer, testified that six of the GDF's nine aircraft were deployed in search and rescue operations between July 19 and July 31, 2026.

Testimony revealed that the Bell 407 was the only serviceable helicopter available during the initial response. However, as a single-engine aircraft, the Bell 407 faced significant operational limitations and was not certified to fly offshore unless specific safety parameters regarding glide distance were met. This restricted the search to coastal areas rather than deep offshore locations.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Langevine testified that he operated the Bell 407 on several flights between July 22 and July 25, conducting reconnaissance from Hampton Court to Waini Point. While the GDF possesses multi-engine helicopters, such as the Bell 412 and the US$10.1 million Bell 429, these were reportedly unserviceable at the time of the incident.