Antigua and Barbuda: The startup of the LIAT 2020 has been delayed over the invention of the defective touchdown gear throughout check flights at Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed the problem and mentioned that the method of the procurement of the brand new elements.
Throughout the flight testing, the authorities found that there was a difficulty with the touchdown gear and the engine, which wanted to be modified. Prime Minister Browne introduced that the federal government has moved to the procurement of the elements as one among them has already been sourced and the opposite one is meant to come back on Tuesday.
The flight testing of LIAT 2020 will once more begin subsequent week with the sourcing of the brand new elements, as ECCA has already reviewed different manuals in the course of the preliminary testing. PM Browne expressed hope and said that, hopefully they will expedite and full them throughout the subsequent couple of weeks.
Notably, the airline needed to change these defective elements to be able to fulfill the precise pointers of aviation for acquiring the Air Operator’s Certificates (AOC). With out the certificates, the airline couldn’t begin the common service of the flights, marking the delay in its operation.
Along with that, Prime Minister Browne additionally shared updates on different two aircrafts which have ben bought by the federal government from the Caribbean Growth Financial institution. He mentioned that these aircrafts are additionally wanted to bear some repairs earlier than sending them for normal operations.
He additionally introduced that the plane will not be fairly airworthy and must be refurbished as there’s a want for the change the brand new touchdown gear and different elements. PM Browne additionally outlined that US$10 million can be spent on their restore.
In the meantime, the federal government has additionally allotted US$12.1 million for the buying of further planes which can be used for the operations of LIAT.
Notably, LIAT 2020 is the successor of LIAT 1947 which has been shut down just lately because of the monetary points posed by COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the federal government has been planning to revive the airline and said that the provider has a big function within the enhanced regional connectivity.
