Mikael Phillips, Opposition Spokesman on Transport - file photo
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Mikael Phillips and Captain Errol Stewart
Opposition Spokesman on Transport Mikael Phillips is concerned that there has been no comment from the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) and Transport Minister Robert Montage on the report containing the findings of the probe into the fatal plane crash in Greenwich Town, St. Andrew on November 10, 2016.
The probe, conducted by the JCAA and the US-based National Transportation Safety Board, uncovered several major safety breaches concerning the ill-fated aircraft and by its operator, the Caribbean Aviation Training Center.
Shortcomings were also found on the part of the JCAA which has oversight responsibility for the local airspace.
RJR News has tried unsuccessfully to contact Nari Williams Singh, Director General of the JCAA, and Tranpsort Minister Robert Montague.
Speaking with RJR News Monday morning, Mr. Phillips said he intends to raise the matter at the next sitting of the House of Representatives since the matter is one of concern for the government as well as the public.
"The minster should at least, at minimum, make a statement in Parliament when we sit again...But it is not in the best interest of the minister himself to keep silent on this report, but at least come to the public and state what are the measures that will be taken to ensure that incidents like these won't happen again," he said.
Mr. Phillips noted that the revelation by the CEO of the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre in the Gleaner on Monday, that he submitted a rebuttal to the findings, which was not included in the report, is even more troubling, and as such, warrants an explanation from the minister.
Captain Errol Stewart told the Gleaner that he produced an eight page rebuttal which was submitted to the JCAA Director General and copied to the Transport Minister in October last year, in which some of the conclusions in the report were challenged. However, his concerns were not acknowledged.
Among aspects of the report Captain Stewart has opposed is a faulty ring gear in the engine, which investigators said caused the small plane to lose power.
Captain Stewart said the ring gear pictured in the report did not belong to the crashed Cessna.
"The evidence presented by the investigator show a totally different component, colour and part, from the ring gear which was on my aircraft. My ring gear is grey, they presented a red ring gear with the ring gear in tact, which suggests falsification of the compentent that they are referring to," he declared.
He said the plane's ring gear was removed from the crash site in November 2016 with the permission of the Cessna accident investigator, who said the part would not have been needed for further inspection.
According to Captain Stewart, after the crash, the ring gear and some of the wreckage were being stored at his Marcus Garvey Drive flight school until several months ago when they were disposed of.
He also produced a report from the flight insurance adjuster who assessed the engine after it was inspected by investigators.
The adjuster, MB Aviation Services, said there were no signs of mechanical failure and that operational wear appeared to be normal.
Captain Stewart also dismissed claims that a work order for the Cessna engine overhaul was forged.
He said it was impossible to have created a work order for an engine that was not on his aircraft.
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