Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

No permission granted to land private single engines @ VG airport - BVIAA

-only commercial flights approved to land with single engines
November 25th, 2021 | Tags: Taddy Bay Airport Virgin Islands flight airport
The BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA) has made it clear that it will not tolerate or be sympathetic with pilots turning up at the Taddy Bay International Airport in private single-engine planes unless those planes are commercial flights. Photo: GIS
On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, pilots Eric and David Zipkin safely landed a single-engine aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12 operated by Tradewind Aviation at the Virgin Gorda International Airport at Taddy Bay, as the first aircraft to touch down as the airport reopened after being out of commission for some years. Photo: VINO/File
On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, pilots Eric and David Zipkin safely landed a single-engine aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12 operated by Tradewind Aviation at the Virgin Gorda International Airport at Taddy Bay, as the first aircraft to touch down as the airport reopened after being out of commission for some years. Photo: VINO/File
TADDY BAY, Virgin Gorda, VI - The BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA) has made it clear that it will not tolerate or be sympathetic with pilots turning up at the Taddy Bay International Airport in private single-engine planes unless those planes are commercial flights.

On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, pilots Eric and David Zipkin safely landed a single-engine aircraft, a Pilatus PC-12 operated by Tradewind Aviation at the Virgin Gorda International Airport at Taddy Bay, as the first aircraft to touch down as the airport reopened after being out of commission for some years.

Passengers included Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), two schoolteachers and a student Ciara Lavia, Javon Carty, Samara Jackson, Virgin Gorda resident Ms Cathy Ann Bascombe, JTV reporter Ms Cathy O. Richards along with BVIAA Acting Managing Director Mr Clive Smith. 

Only single-engine commercial flights permitted 

However, when Acting Director Mr Smith took to the microphone to give remarks, it was revealed that the only single-engine planes that would be permitted to land there are commercial flights.

According to Mr Smith, “For some time, the BVIAA has worked with our regulator, Air Safety Support International, to lift the single-engine restriction on flights into Virgin Gorda. The decision to lift the restriction was based solely on a safety record of these and similar aircraft as well as rigorous monitoring requirements by regulators to ensure that the operation is safe for the travelling public.”

“This does not mean that anyone flying a single-engine aircraft can turn up to Taddy Bay and request permission to land. Only commercial operators that have satisfied the specifics of the Governor’s instruction will be allowed to use the aerodrome,” he said.

However, acting Deputy Director of the BVIAA Mr Keith L. Flax has shared a difference in opinions regarding Virgin Gorda airport as a dangerous place to fly, into stating that the notion is ’nonsense’.

Single engine private planes can fly into VG - Keith Flax 

Flax a pilot of many years said that while it has been some time now since he has been behind the controls, “I piloted a single-engine aircraft in here in 1978. It was a Cessna cardinal retractable gear with autopilot. In those days it was known as a complex single-engine aircraft.”

“The people who are saying that it can only be used now by commercial operators, aircrafts such as the one we are looking at, probably have never flown in here as a pilot and that saddens me because many days I use to get up and say I am going to Virgin Gorda for lunch and just fly over,” he said.

“Five minutes I am back home once I leave here. Such a joy and the pilots would attest to that, it’s the man behind the control,” Mr Flax said while recalling that he flew into VG on Cessna 172s and 150s.

18 Responses to “No permission granted to land private single engines @ VG airport - BVIAA”

  • Oh Please (25/11/2021, 10:38) Like (3) Dislike (10) Reply
    Single engine flights land there all the time during the day, just another policy where talks is not action
    • hmmm (25/11/2021, 11:54) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Commercial single engine are allowed NOT PRIVATE. There is a difference
  • Instigating (25/11/2021, 11:29) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Is flax a real pilot or flight sim pilot ??
  • Pundit (25/11/2021, 11:48) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    They need to pussy footing with the airport renovate the place properly and name it after the late great and first Premier of the BVI the Ralph T. O'Neal International Airport at Taddy Bay, Virgin Gorda.
  • WOW (25/11/2021, 11:50) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    The regulator makes rules for a specific reason. Everyone want to be Charles in charge, including the Deputy. The Acting MD is much more qualified than the Deputy. We all know how he got the job. And it had nothing to do with competence.
  • Snoopy (25/11/2021, 12:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your kidding right ? What an operation.
  • Tola (25/11/2021, 15:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    So you mean to tell me that at one lil airport opening the Ag. MD and the Deputy MD had to air their dirty laundry?
  • dumb as a rock (25/11/2021, 15:08) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I have been flying single engine planes for years all over the world. What possible reason could there be for this.
    • Pilot (25/11/2021, 15:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well there is that, welcome to the BVI, where the reasons for decisions, or a lack thereof, is hazy at best.
    • Remember (26/11/2021, 06:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      0n opening day a Single Engine Plane Crash killing all on board but a child.
      • Pilot (27/11/2021, 02:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Well and that will not be forgotten, however if we would close roads anytime a serous accident occurs we would be back riding donkeys only...
  • Pilot (25/11/2021, 15:27) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    So why not give pilots a check ride such as is done at St Barths, Saba, and many other "challenging" locations. TUPW can have a strong x-wind component perhaps they could put a restriction on above a certain wind speed. To blatantly disallow all none commercial aircraft seems to originate from other considerations than safety....
  • @dumb as a rock (25/11/2021, 17:11) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some insurance companies won't allow you to land ur single engine planes because of the Terrain surrounding that airport.
  • Lol At Flax (26/11/2021, 12:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Im still trying to understand the relevance of Mr. Flax up at the airport. I see this man everywhere else but the airport but every time there is a chance to speak publicly on something he had nothing to do with...alakazam... Mr Flax appears. No wonder airport sinking, if you paying people like him an exorbitant salary to be a paper weight.
  • Hf (29/11/2021, 20:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Coke strip


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.