Community
Training at Cayman Airways
From left are: First Officer Javier Thompson; CaptainDalkeith Whittaker; Captain Perry Panton; First Officer NewtonSolomon; Supervisors, Captain Johnny Brown and Rex Miller; FirstOfficer Leroy McLaughlin; and Captain K Panton. Missing are CaptainsArlond Brooks and Kris Bergstrom, Frederick Whorms, Todd Chisholm,Mark McConney and Leon Missick.
In the past two years at Cayman Airways,there has been a lot of training and hiring completed mainly inanticipation of adding a third aircraft to the fleet.
Starting in January 1999, Messrs Javier Thompson and FrederickWhorms were hired. In April 1999, First Officers Arlond Brooksand Perry Panton were promoted to Captain. In November 1999, LeroyMcLaughlin and Newton Solomon were hired.
In the early part of 2000, First Officer Kris Bergstrom was promotedto the left seat (Captain). First Officer, Dalkeith Whittaker,was promoted to Captain in July 2000.
First Officers Todd Chisholm and Mark McConney completed FirstOfficer training in July 2000. First Officer Leon Missick washired in September 2000.
The training for Captain is extensive, with each candidate attendingadditional ground school, six initial simulator sessions, followedby Line Training with a Supervisor to all destinations, and sixmore additional simulator sessions.
Finally, being checked by Company and CAA Inspectors both in thesimulator and actual aircraft.
The number of Caymanians promoted and hired in the past two yearshas been unprecedented in the history of the airline.
The Training Department deserves high praise for making all ofthis possible. All of this training was completed in additionto the normal bi-annual simulator training for all the Company'spilots.
Demands placed on the Training Department has been continuousduring this period which was under the charge of Captain A RexMiller, supported by Supervisory Captain Johnny Brown.
Others who made all this possible were Captain K Panton (ChiefPilot), Captain Joseph Jackson, Captain Gary Hydes and CaptainSteve Scott, all of whom assisted with the Line Training of Captainsand First Officers.
Captain Panton praises his staff for being so dedicated andhard-working.He also wishes to say thanks to all those who make pilot trainingpossible. His assistant, Ms Ann Marie Byrd, who makes all travelarrangements for the Pilots and acts as their mom, is also deservingof praise. The Maintenance staff for making planes available,and the Operations Staff for taking care of all details on thetraining flights.
He also wishes to thank the CI-CAA for all their cooperation andassistance in conducting training of his staff. The Tower foropening earlier than normal and the CAA's Inspectors for theirassistance in monitoring check rides and issuing the relevantlicenses and authorisations.
But he is certain that the public accepts this minor inconvenience,knowing that their pilots are some of the best-trained in theindustry.
Cayman Airways standards in training goes above many of the bigplayers in this business.