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SMI IIIIS. SMI HOf S Carlyn Vm*n»’ othi' lt;*voun*« mod. of lllld; he. b(C HE wan fed to chooso ^aviation as hor caroor. Hor parents disagreed. They didn't think it was a career lor women. And so she went into nursing but kept flying as a hobby. After a year, she had to make a choice between Hying and nursing... the skies won out.Today. Carolyn Vincent is one of lour Jamaican women who recently took to the skies with the oronoe ond eold lovebird. Air JamaicaAlono wtth Carolyn who Is on the 8727. there ore Second Officers Michele Yoo ond Marlene Smith on tne AID and MclVno ‘OebMc- McMattcr on the 8727. This brlnos to live the number of female pilots of Air Jamaica with Morlo ZkxM-Hoddod being the first female flight crew member on the AMO.n A ir Jomolca provides the/-\op3ortonrtv tor auolified Jamaican pilots to enter the cockpit Since hiring the first femole pilot in 1079 we hove found I hat more women have been auotlfying as commercial pilots. Ai Air Jamaica we hire pilots based on Qualifications regardless of sex,* said Cootoln Llovd Tor. Vice President. Operotions.The advent of women In aviation dates bock to the 1930s when Amelia Earhart become the first woman to fly the North Atlantic. Since then women trom around the world hove piloted aircraft and repaired planesHowever, It was not until In the 1960's ond early '70s that the Held of airline flylno opened uc to women. In 1952 Mrs. Earsiy Barnett, on Amertcon and wile of Malor Carl Barnett of Wings Jamaica Ltd., became Jamaica's first female pilot ond later she also become the tlrst commercial pilot ond flight Instructor. And In 1975 Yola Coin become the first Jamaican woman to obtain a commerical and flight Instructor licence Since the*, there hos been seven other femole commercial pilots.alor Carl Barnett, who has trained many ot them soys, ‘Some 371 women have been tratred os pilots with about 3W being trained or having done the conversion course at Wings Jamaica * Wings Jamaica ond indeed Mr. Barnett has been instrumentalend Dab be McMeiteiMario Zladle Hoddod, Air Jomalco’s pioneering femole pilot, hod her first flying experience m 1974 when she started training with wings Jamaica aualitving as a p'lvote pilot. She went on to become an instructor ot Wings Jomolca and Rutair while doing the required number of flying hours for her commercial licence.In 1974 also Morla joined Air Jomalco os o Bight atteockint while Irolning lor her pilot's licence ond later transferred to the cockpit os a Second Officer in 1979 on the B727 In 1982 she was promoted to the A300 neet In ihe same caooclty. Later In 1984 she became a First Officer on the AMO. Morla is now one step away from the envied four bars ot o caploin. I wos given tne golden ocoortumly to become an airline pilot wtth on International carrier. Like most of my colteooues. I welcomed Ihe chance to loin the ranks of Air Jamaica pilots, and also thechallenge to prove that Jomalcon women are ot the right sluff too,* said Morla.On Ash Wednesday, February 28. the airline recorded a female first, as for Ihe tlrst time there was omv one mote crew mem ter on on Air Jomolca flight 017/016. Cootoln Winston Reynolds wos assisted by First Officer Morla Ziodle Haddad, who has been wtth Air Jamaica lor 12 year* ond Second Officer Manene Smith.*1 hove been flying with our femole Second Officers and I must say it’s a real pieosure to work olong with them on the flight deck,* sakl Marla.In 1968 Michele Yoo distinguished herself os the tlrst female olrllne captoin in theCaribbean she captained the Twin Otle* with Leeward Island Air Tronsport (LIAT) In 1988.AI LIAT, Michele also formed part of the llrst oil-female crew in Ihe English-speaking Caribbean in 1999.Aviation was always a tlek) in which Michele had an Interest. *11 Is something I hod always wanted to do Belno up there is like nothing else In the world to me. I lust love to tlv,’ sold Michele os she descrtsed her experience soaring the skies.With 10 years ot living experience, seven of which hove been commercial, Michele sold she Is fascinated wtth let ftvmg. *lt is such o thrill to be In o let aircraft, she stated Michele enlovs working as o pilot. -There ore high standards and there is no routine and I lust love tnat,* she sold smiling.When not In the oir Michele plays tennis, reads or listens lo music.Marlene Smlltt a determined young woman, wos also 0 flight instructor ond Charter pilot of Wlnos Jamaica For twenty-live year old Marlene, who holis trom Westmorelond, living s a hobbv os well os o lob. Becoming o pilot with Air Jomolca has been her ultimate goal tince childhood.*Alr Jamaica It on excellent olrllne lo work with, the standards In the cockpit are high end the pilots strive to rnomtoln them,* she said Although she fxis a busy schedule Mortene oiso finds time lo devote to her hobbies, dancing ord swimming.Twenty-three year old Carolyn Vincent earned her commercial licence ond Instrument rating with Wlnosin paving Ihe way for more women to enter this career in Jamolco.Air Jamaica provides the opportunity for qualifiedJamaican pilots to enter the cockpit. Since hiring thefirst female pilot in 1979 we have found that more women have been qualifying as commercial pilots.NewspaperARCHIVE®,.-
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Mon, Sep 03, 1990
Page 50
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 17 Dec 2016
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