Local VI Airlink marks another historic achievement
In an exclusive interview with this news site Brathwaite Jr., who is the spokesperson for the family entity, said that this achievement classes VI Airlink as an Overseas Territory 121 large aeroplane operator.
VI Airlink now joins LIAT as the Virgin Islands’ second large aeroplane operator to be able to operate to the Eastern Leeward Islands. “VI Airlink is proud to achieve this step for it is the only locally owned, registered and operated airline in the British Virgin Islands, with its eyes set on two flights a week to Antigua, and [plans to] expand destinations to link the B.V.I., its clients and citizens to the World and the Caribbean,” said Brathwaite Jr.
He said that they have been chasing after this status for one year now. To make the mark they were required to upgrade quality and safety management systems, upgrade maintenance facility, added schooling/training for pilots and engineers for new aeroplane and proving runs with an Air Safety Support International inspector riding in the back evaluating operation of the aircraft and operations as a whole.
Progress after progress has been the trait of VI Airlink over the recent years. It was just on January 20, 2013, VI Airlink confirmed that they were the only VI registered airline into Virgin Gorda since 1994 and that they conducted the required training for their pilots to be able to perform flights in and out of Virgin Gorda to various destinations - a move which has seen them adding Virgin Gorda to its Anegada, and St Thomas schedule, and is poised to perform scheduled service between Virgin Gorda and St Maarten. VI Airlink was also able to provide charters to numerous destinations out of Virgin Gorda.
Another significant accomplishment of the local air carrier company was when after more than two years of lobbying, spending and patience, they had made history of its own in January 2012 as it made two charter flights to St. Croix for the first time ever since being given permission to fly to US ports.
Back then VI Air Link Captain Neville Braithwaite Jr. had told this news site that, the locally registered carrier made its maiden charter flight to St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands on Saturday January 21, 2012 and made a second flight to the same destination the following day.
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