New CAACI staff (L-R): John Dick, Crystal Godet, Elaine Whorms and Dennis Carey.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) head Office in Grand Cayman will be strengthened with the recently hiring of four new staff members.

The CAACI said that Captain Dennis Carey, John Dick, Crystal Godet and Elaine Whorms are its newest employees.

Captain Carey fills the post of Flight Operations Inspector in CAACI’s Air Safety Regulation Division. He has extensive flying experience on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, which includes service in the Canadian armed forces and Transport Canada flying various aircraft globally.

He served as a Senior Civil Aviation Inspector with Transport Canada for 20 years until 2001 when he accepted a position with the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority as a Flight Safety Inspector with primary responsibility for approving flight manuals and overseeing simulator training for Air Jamaica’s flight crews. He also holds qualifications in aircraft accidents and incidents investigation, air carrier auditing and developing aviation regulations.

The CAACI said Captain Carey’s impressive range of experience is well suited to his post at CAACI as he assists the Air Safety Regulatory team headed by Director Ian Scott, with regulating the flight operations of all Cayman registered aircraft based locally and internationally.

Mr Dick has taken up the post of Aerodrome Safety Inspector within the Air Navigation Services Regulation Division headed by Director Jeremy Jackson. He has primary responsibility for regulating the aerodromes (airports) to ensure compliance with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and local legislation.

With over 35 years experience in this field and having held chief aerodrome safety audit and inspection positions with Transport Canada, he is well qualified to assist the CAACI in its aerodrome certification programme. He also holds a pilot’s licence with ratings on various types of aircraft.

Also hired is recent college graduate Crystal Godet. She comes to the CAACI after her graduation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida last December. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Safety Science with a concentration in Air Transportation Safety.

In attaining this degree, she has completed relevant coursework in various specialty studies specifically including Aircraft Accident Investigation, Safety Programme Management, Human Factors in Aviation Safety and Environmental Compliance and Safety. Ms Godet fills the post of Aviation Safety Officer in the Air Navigation Services Regulation division and is currently assisting with the responsibilities of aerodrome safety regulation.

Another post filled recently was that of Air Carrier Licensing Officer by Mrs Whorms. This post reports to the Director of Commercial Affairs Regulation and Administration Nicoela McCoy and is within the economic regulatory regime of the CAACI.

Mrs Whorms comes to the CAACI with over 14 years experience in the air transport industry with the national carrier Cayman Airways. She holds qualifications and experience in airline ticketing, passenger services and airport operations, airline statistical compilation and analysis, airline operations scheduling, management of aircraft handling services for scheduled carriers, invoicing and other accounting functions from her previous job.

In her new post she is primarily responsible for the licensing of foreign registered aircraft that operate into the territory in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements, the monitoring and approval of tariffs, statistics compilation and general support to the senior management of the CAACI.

“The addition of these key employees to the existing staff compliment enhances our capabilities in meeting our responsibility for safety and economic regulatory oversight of the Cayman Islands’ aviation industry,” said Director-General of the CAACI Richard Smith.

“These professionals are well versed in their respective fields and I am pleased that we have been able to attract such highly qualified staff in this highly competitive global marketplace.”