Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (24 December 2024) The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA), which operates the Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) on Grand Cayman and the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (CKIA) on Cayman Brac, proudly hosted a graduation ceremony on Friday, 29 November 2024 at George Town Yacht Club to honour and celebrate seven exceptional Air Traffic Control (ATC) Trainees from ORIA and CKIA.

The ATC trainees completed an intensive eight-month long International Civil Aviation Organization Ab-Initio Procedural Aerodrome and Approach Training Program, held locally by USA based training school Advanced ATC, and expertly led by instructors Hennie Marais, Brian Van Hout, Jonathan Kiefer and Daunica Brock. These dedicated individuals have achieved success with flying colours and are ready to take flight in their exciting careers.

ATC Trainees Jose Delgado Macias, Duncan Anderson, Nasandra Tibbetts, Lauryn Bennette, Anthony Mendez Jr, Stephen Ebanks and Maxwell Johnson receive their certificates

During the ceremony, several of the graduates delivered heartfelt speeches reflecting on their journey of growth and learning. They expressed gratitude to their instructors for their guidance, their families for unwavering support, and their friends for encouragement throughout the process. Their words highlighted the challenges they overcame, the skills they gained, and the bonds they formed, making the celebration even more memorable.

“I couldn’t be prouder of you all for completing your Ab-Initio ATC Aerodrome and Approach Training. Reaching such a significant milestone is no small feat, and it reflects your hard work, dedication, and perseverance,” said CKIA Airport Manager Joshua Burke, himself an experienced ex-ATC Supervisor. “This achievement marks the beginning of an exciting journey in Air Traffic Control—a vital and rewarding field where I have no doubt you all will excel. Take a moment to celebrate this well-deserved success. Your commitment and focus have truly paid off, and I look forward to seeing all the incredible contributions you all will make in the future.”

ATC Trainees celebrate graduation ceremony with CKIA Airport Manager Joshua Burke and ORIA ATC Manager Alastair Bird.

The CIAA is proud to help young Caymanian professionals attain their dream career in ATC and encourage other likeminded individuals to pursue a fulfilling career in the aviation industry.

Building on the success of this year’s programme, the CIAA is optimistic that this training will be offered again in 2025 to support new ATC trainees set to join early in the year.