TCI: JAGS McCartney Int’l Airport plagued by Closures; Fire Trucks & need overhaul

#TurksandCaicos, May 18, 2021 – Grand Turk’s JAGS McCartney International Airport is now reopened, but air traffic will be limited in scope as the fire equipment at the airport is still unable to offer the regulated coverage for larger aircraft to fly in, confirmed Floyd Ingham, (Acting) CEO of the TCI Airports Authority. 

“he Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) wishes to inform the General Public that TCIAA temporally suspended Flight operations at the JAGS McCartney International Airport due to lack of Aerodrome Rescue Fire coverage.

TCIAA is making every effort to restore flight operations and will provide an updated press release once operations are restored,” said a Monday statement issued by the TCIAA.

Mr. Ingham informed, Caicos Express Airways can get its 19-seater in there and interCaribbean Airways, which prefers to service the route with its 30-seater, won’t.  It means the 19-seat twin otter – which sits 19 – will have to be the option for interCaribbean and it is unclear if that can happen. 

All day Monday (May 17), the JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT) was shut due to the broken down fire trucks; there are two of them and with support from the manufacturer, the TCIAA was able to get one of the trucks operational again, said the CEO of the TCIAA. 

In a one on one with Mr. Ingham, effort was made to understand why the issue of lack of “fire coverage” is a recurring nightmare for travellers and airline companies to the country’s capital island. 

It boils down to planning or the lack of it. 

Mr. Lyndon Gardiner, Chairman of InterCaribbean Airways on Monday said to Magnetic Media, “Today’s inconvenience is a direct result of years of mismanagement at the airports authority; a lack of accountability.  I hope that this new administration will recognize the value of maintaining public infrastructure particularly in the area of air transportation.” 

Gardiner’s company grounded six flights yesterday, had to face dozens of frustrated flyers including tourists who had hoped for a getaway to Grand Turk. 

It was also exposed that no one ever compensates for the inconveniences and losses to travellers, the airlines or businesses which lose money on either side of the commute. 

Mr. Ingham explained that his team is trying to get the situation solved quickly, but it may be as much as two more days before there is resolve.  The manufacturers’ representative is indisposed at the moment; trapped in Trinidad and Tobago where the country is in a state of emergency and closed off to the world due to the ongoing rampage of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The (Acting) CEO, agreed with our characterization; this is a “mess” but offered that efforts were being made to ensure both the PLS and the GDT (airports) were adequately covered. 

The entire fleet needed to be upgraded and Provo recently got three new fire trucks (pictured). 

Grand Turk’s airport inherited the fire equipment formerly stationed in Provo but the refurbishment of those engines is delayed, and the trucks continue to experience mechanical problems. 

If the trucks break down, the airport has to close.  

While the Turks and Caicos enjoys a very safe, virtually incident-free aviation record, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) mandates that the coverage is there, just in case of an emergency.

Minister of Airports now is Hon Arlington Musgrove; during his press conference on Monday he revealed there was a big problem being worked on at the Grand Turk airport and a big problem it is. 

At this point, the TCIAA continues with this notice: “ The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) wishes to inform the General Public that TCIAA has restored operations at a reduced capacity at the JAGS McCartney Aerodrome.

TCIAA is making every effort to restore the Grand Turk Aerodrome to normal capacity.

The TCIAA expresses their sincere regret and extend apologies to their stakeholders and the traveling public for all inconvenience caused by the disruption of flight operations.”