Unscheduled maintenance grounds CAL twin otters
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CNS): The two DeHavilland Twin Otter aircraft used by Cayman Airways Express for its Sister Islands routes will be out of service due to "unscheduled maintenance requirements” until the 6 September, the airline has announced. Officials from Cayman Airways (CAL) did not say what the issues were with both aircraft but apologized to passengers and said it took "pride in upholding the highest standards of safety and security” and was committed to “compliance with all regulatory requirements". The airline said that as a result of the “unanticipated situation” it would reveal the temporary changes to the service between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands once it was finalized.
The airline said the stop-gap service would involve a combination of Cayman Airways B737-300’s and leased-in equipmentfrom other CAA-approved operators.
“This modified flight schedule will be published as soon as it is confirmed,” officials said in a release. “Cayman Airways Express passengers booked on the affected flights are currently being notified of schedule changes.”
Further information and updates will be available on www.caymanairways.com and by calling Cayman Airways Reservations and Information Center on 345 949-2311.
Category: Local News
(1 dash-8) & (1 twin otter) is all the C-Brac & L-Cayman need! that would be the best move the GOVT can do to save $$$, rather than using the jet to carry 15 pasengers!
Bracer
My suggestion would be to put safety before anything else. That is all we need now is to have problems with un- maintained airlines.. Cayman Airways, make sure that you are on top of this for your own good and everyone else safety.
(1dash 8)would be perfect plane for cayman Brac because it can Carr roughly 30-40 passengers & it’s faster than (twin otters) that they’re using now!
Bracer
I heard from someone that works there, that it is a very serious structural problem. Why wont the airline say what it is?
Better safe than sorry as those planes seem to be flying non stop 7 days a week.I certainly would not mind the delay for safety reasons.
Yipppeeeee we have been having helicoper service for the past two days to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Wonder how much that is costing????!!!!!!!
CAL need to upgrade to the Bombardier Q400. More seats, and it can land on both islands. Plus, it has more range so if flights are 'under capacity' it could be dispatched for flights that bigger jets usually take.
A Q400 (also known as the larger version of the “Dash-8”), would not be able to operate to Little Cayman. The runway is too short and there are obstacles at the far end (tall trees). Commercial operators have to meet certain performance and obstacle requirements on take-offs and those could not be met in Little Cayman with a Q400. On top of that, that aircraft would have a hard time manoeuvering on the ground and the ground support for a transit would need upgrading.
A similar thing happened at the end of April 2009. The aircraft were grounded for two weeks but if I remember rightly the cause of the problems was not revealed.
Having said that these tough little airplanes are worked pretty so that's pretty good serviceability.