Statement on Aircraft Operations – Department of Civil Aviation

Press Release - Belmopan - February 3, 2011 - The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture and the Department of Civil Aviation, take this opportunity to clarify certain reports in the local media about aircraft operations at the P.S.W.Goldson International Airport.

With reference to the Mexican registered helicopters, two of them landed on Wednesday, 19th January, 2011. Their nationality and registration marks were XA-UCC and XA-HSK. The two of them were of the type BELL 412EP. These helicopters and flight crew met all the technical requirements to operate in Belizean airspace.

On Sunday, 23rd January, 2011, personnel from the Belize Airport Concession Company Ltd. alerted the Department of Civil Aviation that there were persons working around one of the helicopters and that it appeared that they were changing the marks on one of the helicopters. The Department of Civil Aviation did not consider this appropriate and immediately took action to stop the activity.

On Monday, 24th January, 2011, the flight crew from the helicopters visited the Department. They indicated that they had permission from the Mexican Civil Aviation Authorities to carry out this change. They provided the Department with approval documents from the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority. The Department of Civil Aviation informed them that in accordance with international standards, this activity cannot be done outside the boundaries of the State of Registry. In this case Mexico.

Even though there was approval from the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority, this activity was not authorized to be carried out in Belize. The helicopters departed back to Mexico (Cozumel) with their original nationality and registration marks that they had on their arrival.

In relation to the aircraft with Mexican nationality and registration marks, XB-LRP, Beechcraft 65, it arrived in the country on the 12th April, 2010. Most of the time this aircraft was parked at a private maintenance hangar at the P.S.W.Goldson Airport.

The aircraft did a test flight in August of 2010 and another in October, 2010. These flights were approved after flight safety inspectors from the Department of Civil Aviation perused the aircraft and flight crew documents to ensure that all are in order. These flight safety inspectors consist of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers working for the Department of Civil Aviation.
On Monday, 24th January, 2011, permission was sought and there was no objection from the Department of Civil Aviation for another test flight since the documents were found in order a flight safety inspector. The flight test was carried out on Saturday, 29th January, 2011. This flight test was to be carried out in the area of Dangriga. After the flight departed, the Tower Air traffic Control Officer informed the pilot to contact the Radar Air Traffic Control Unit. Even though a Transponder Code was assigned, it was never activated by the pilot nor was there any radio contact made with this unit. This flight was considered as a local flight since at no time were the Air Traffic Services notified that this aircraft would leave the country.

After many attempts to contact the aircraft failed, and there was no indication of the aircraft having crashed, it was believed that the pilot’s action was that of not returning to its point of departure. The matter was then handed over to the law enforcement agencies at the P.S.W.G. International Airport for further investigation.

The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture and the Department of Civil Aviation, will continue to promote the safe, efficient and expeditious movement of domestic and international air transportation through the provisions of proper regulatory procedures in accordance with the air navigation regulations in force and the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization.