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This Week We Feature - Young Professional - Neville C. Brathwaite Jr

Neville C. Brathwaite Jr pilot for VI Airlink, authorised plane mechanic, plane inspector and instructor: VINO
Neville C. Brathwaite Jr has fulfilled the rare accomplishment of achieving his sole childhood dream of flight.

The Virgin Islands born 32 year old, currently holds multiple sets of occupational responsibilities. He is a pilot for VI Airlink, an authorized plane mechanic, plane inspector and instructor. “I am responsible for the flight operations on a whole, making sure that anything necessary for the flight procedure to function correctly is acquired and making certain the operation runs smoothly,” said the Young Professional.

Mr. Brathwaite explained: “My main duties involve flying the planes for VI Airlink. The mechanic role comes into play on a more specific schedule – there are different tasks that I’m assigned at particular times, so I have to adhere to that schedule, unless I have certain clients emerging out of the blue. Overall, it’s a little bit of both being a pilot and a mechanic.”

Mr. Brathwaite has flown and mechanically worked on the following aircrafts - Single: Cessna; 172, 172RG, 206, Cessna 208B, Multiengine: Aero Commander; 500S, 690, Cessna 402C Piper; Apache, Aztec, Navajo, Helicopter: Robinson R22, Bell 206 & 206L, Jet: Cessna Citation II and King Air A100.

Among his accomplishments, he has operated as a flight instructor, sea plane pilot and helicopter pilot.

The Young Professional, who was surrounded by aviation since his birth, has always harboured the strong ambition to be a pilot. “I have always wanted to be a pilot and it seems to be a hereditary desire. My father has been a pilot for almost 40 years now. He’s also multifunctional as both pilot and mechanic,” he said.

“However, the hereditary part of my ambition was a small part of why I wanted to be a pilot – it wasn’t so much about it being passed down from father to son. It’s more the fact that I’ve been around planes since I was a young boy and I genuinely always wanted to fly them. There was no pressure from family or anything of that nature. It was simply my dream to fly.”

Mr. Brathwaite, who is part of a family of pilots with his sister, brother and father all capable of operating certain aircrafts, began his career in aviation from a very early age, with his lessons in flight commencing at the age of 14. He successfully obtained his pilot’s license at 16, before his driver’s license, and gained his mechanic’s license at the age of 23.

The pilot commented on his ability to progress with the hard work that the aviation world demanded: “The childhood dream as well as having a pilot (my father) to look up to, was a great positive to have in driving me forward to succeed in my career. It eased the challenges I faced throughout my flight schooling.”

The multi-functioning professional also explained the addition of ‘plane mechanic’ to his resume, “The transition from pilot to mechanic came when I gave thought to the fact that I’m flying these incredible machines. I thought ‘it would be nice to know how this technology actually works.’”

“The fact that I was with my dad, afforded me the opportunity of apprenticeship with him, because of his plane mechanic skills,” the pilot continued. “It does cost a bit to go through these processes in gaining these abilities, but the benefit of being around people who have worked in the industry, holding the wealth of experience that they have, granted me a pool of knowledge. From the advice I was given,  I was able to take shorter paths or manage myself more economically to achieve my goals.”

The Young Professional touched on one of the difficulties of trying to get into the aviation industry. “A major problem with trying to get into the aviation business is that a lot of the airlines in the Virgin Islands (VI) are not owned by Virgin Islanders. If we could one day get VI owned airlines, job opportunities for pilots would be improved, expanding the industry for Virgin Islanders and I even think it could improve the economy.“

Mr. Brathwaite offered advice to persons interested in pursuing a career in the aviation industry. “With regard to such a career, it really is about how much you put in, because although monetary expense is a part of it, I found that I was able to gain my license before people who were in aviation school prior to my arrival. It truly is about the effort your willing to go in with, because that will govern how much you gain from it.”

The Young Professional came to an end, stating: “I am content and very grateful for what I am doing. I did put in a certain amount of work, but if it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Also, to be surrounded by encouraging people, my parents raising me and assisting me along the way and now, to have a very supportive wife – it all helps to make my career and indeed my life easier.

“I have travelled all over the US and Caribbean, which I feel has given me a broader view of what these different places have to offer. I have been able to compare the differences, which is amazing for either granting a person a greater appreciation for what they have, or allowing someone to improve on aspects of their life with their new discoveries. Travelling is an incredible benefit of the flight industry.

Mr. Brathwaite revealed his hopes, saying: “In the future, I would love to run the number one airline of the Virgin Islands. If I’m optimistic, I’m hoping to achieve that goal within a ten year span,” he said.

4 Responses to “This Week We Feature - Young Professional - Neville C. Brathwaite Jr”

  • Queen Mary (14/05/2010, 13:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
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  • Steven J Magras (29/12/2010, 21:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Congrats Neville Jr. I remember watching you grow into the talented young man you are now. Your drive and ambition to succeed will take you far. I enjoyed working with your family to keep the planes flying, and was always happy to share my knowledge with you. Keep up the excellent work, and I look forward to visiting again soon....this time as a tourist....Congrats. Steven J Magras Senior Aircraft Maintenance Technician FEDEX
    • Good Job (15/01/2011, 08:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I remember teaching all the Brathwate children in High School, in my class all they were interested in was flying. They did flying simulation every time they came to class. I am very proud of what you have achieve. I am going to encourage you to take the hands of a few young ones and guide them in the direction that you have taken. Keep up the good work.


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