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JCAA celebrates 100 of powered flight

Published:Sunday | December 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Captains Brian Haddad, Maria Ziadie Haddad, Christopher Kirkcaldy, Robert Hamaty, Lloyd Tai and Major Victor Beek.
Chairman of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority board, Y.P. Seaton (left), greets Lt Col Oscar Derby, director general of the JCAA.
Lt Col Oscar Derby, director general of the JCAA, presents an award to Captain Maria Ziadie Haddad for being the first woman to attain the status of captain for a commercial flight.- Contributed Photos
Jennifer McDonald, chief executive officer of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, poses with the award she received from the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.
Lt Col Oscar Derby and his wife, Meredith.- Photos by Barbara Ellington
Robert Hamaty with long-time friend Lorna Myers. - Photo Barbara Ellington
Director of Flight Safety at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Nari Williams Singh, and the lovely Trisha K. Thompson.
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The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) is 100 years old and the establishment of an aviation museum and essay competition are among the many plans to mark the milestone next year. So said Lt Col Oscar Derby, director general of the JCAA, to guests at the industry awards dinner dubbed 'Celebrating 100 Years of Powered Flight' on Saturday, December 10, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Derby said details of the year-long activities would be unveiled soon and promised much excitement and the involvement of the entire island. Also speaking at the dinner was former member of the 'dirty dozen', Robert Hamaty, now based in the Cayman Islands. He gave recollections about the exploits of the first 12 pilots employed to the then newly formed Air Jamaica, much to the delight of everyone.

Among the awardees were Aeronautical Telecommunications Limited; National Meteorological Service; JCAA/Air Traffic Services; Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency; Montego Bay Jamaica Airports Limited; Airport Authority of Jamaica; AJAS Limited; Airport Authority of Jamaica; Wings Jamaica Limited; Jamaica Tourist Board; Jamaica Travel Agents Association; JDF Air Wing and others.

Master of ceremonies was Dervan Malcolm and music was provided by Warm and Easy.

Guests out included Custos of St Andrew Marigold Harding and her husband, Senator Oswald Harding; Carl Barnett; Jennifer McDonald; Mike Vendryes and Barbara Vendryes; Shantal Hylton Tonnes; Dale Davis; Audley Dietrich; Bishop Don Taylor; Keith Smith; Col Geoffrey Roper; Commander John McFarlane; Carlene and Captain Robert Hamaty; Captain Greg Fox and Carol Fox; Carol Whittle; Carrole Guntley; Major Richard Reece and wife Pamela; Carl Gaynair; Arturo and Marcia Stewart; Dudley and Dorothy Beek and several more.