HEAD OF HONDURAN CIVIL AVIATION CHARGED FOR ILLEGAL LICENCES
Honduras’ Attorney General ordered on Tuesday 12, 2008 to apprehend Guillermo Seamman, director-general of the National Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), who has been charged of issuing 38 illegal licenses to pilots and mechanics from Venezuela y Peru. “Seamman is accused of abusing power and thus an apprehension warrant has been issued”, said Public Ministry spokesman Melvin Duarte. After several months of investigation, the Attorney General’s Office on Organized Crime “determined that Seamann endorsed licenses to pilots, aviation mechanics, air hostesses and flight attendants”, he added. Those benefited, including 38 Venezuelans and one Peruvian, obtained their documents “without having to come to Honduras of having to pass the corresponding tests. They did it through local lawyers… and that is illegal. Seamman, who was appointed by President Manuel Zelaya in 2006 to lead DGAC for 4 years, denied the charges and told Radio Cadena Voces that “everything was done correctly”, although he did not deny signing the licenses. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certified Toncontín as an international airport, but it could take time to endorse DGAC following the accusation.