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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Presentation to Blue Angels – Winners of The Bahamas Aviation’s Department, Bahamas Out Island Students Artistic Chocks Competition, met and presented the US Navy’s Blue Angel Diamond team with artistic Bahamian themed general aviation chocks, during the recent Sun ‘n Fun Aviation show. Above at the presentation to the flight demonstration squadron officers at Left, Leonard Stuart, Manager, Aviation Department, students Albert Simms, Long and Rebecca Knowles, Eleuthera and at right, Greg Rolle, Bahamas Chief Aviation Specialist.
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Student Presentations to top officials
at Sun ‘n Fun, takes Bahamas Aviation initiatives to new Heights
Fort Lauderdale, FL –
The presence and participation of The Islands Of The Bahamas at the recent
Sun ‘n Fun aviation show, Lakeland,, FL, was highlighted by personal,
individual presentations made to aviation greats by winners
of The Bahamas Out Island Student Artistic Chocks competition.
Presentations of, unique, hand painted,
general aviation chocks were made to officials and executives including
(but not limited to) U.S. Congressman, Sam Graves (R-MO); Sun “n
Fun President, John Burton; Sun ‘n Fun Chairman of the Board, William
Eickhoff; EAA President, Rod Hightower; premier aviation artist, Sam Lyons
and the diamond group of the world famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
Attired in freshly pressed, crisp, uniforms,
worn with pride and warm Bahamian smiles, the students made quite an impression
at the show. Their good will gestures, that were well received, proved
that it is never too early to take an active role in the country’s business
of tourism.
The Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism and Aviation,
have been taking part in the Annual Sun ‘n Fun Aviation event for some
10 years. The Bahamas Out Island students, as a part of The Bahamas
contingent at the show this year, participated by promoting their country’s
message. The students spoke to pilots and consumers of the beauty
of the unspoiled Islands and Cays and the simplicity of Customs and Immigration
procedures, but also shared personal accounts of their individual Island
homes.
In addition to the student’s assistance
in promoting the country, The Islands Of The Bahamas booth was partnered
by Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island, Stella Maris Resort Club
on Long Island and Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort, on Grand Bahama
Island, Abaco Beach Resort at Boat Harbour on Abaco, and our Bahamas Gateway
FBO's, Banyan Air Service, Executive Flight Support, Odyssey Aviation
and Grand Bahama Airport Company Ltd.
Commenting on the success of The Bahamas’
participation in this year’s show, Bahamas Chief Aviation Specialist,
Greg Rolle, noted that, “In addition to the countless pilots that
we were able to speak with at our booth, the hundreds of chocks that were
given away within the first few days of the show, serves as long lasting
mementos..” Rolle said that, he was glad that he and aviation manager,
Leonard Stuart, got the opportunity to make presentations. He was
also happy that he was able to assist many persons who indicated planned
flights to The Bahamas in the immediate future.
About the students overall view of
the show Rolle noted that from what he had heard expressed, “Watching
the breathtaking maneuvers of the Blue Angels was a hit for the students,
but the speedy clean-up of the show site overnight, following a serious
storm, was very impressive for our students to experience. They were
able to see ‘the show must, and did go on’.”
The wining students in attendance at the
show were accompanied by Bahamas Tourism Out Island based staff, who had
served as on-island coordinators of the Chocks competition. The students
hailed from Abaco, Ozeke Swain; Exuma, Denaya Rolle; Eleuthera, Rebecca
Knowles and Long Island, Albert Simms. Selected from some 20 High
Schools representing eight different Family Islands and Freeport, Grand
Bahama, the trip to Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Fl, presented the opportunity
for the winners to travel internationally.
Artistic Chock Presentation to Renowned Aviation Artist – Well known and respected aviation artist, Sam Lyons was barely successful in fighting back tears when he was presented with a unique hand painted chock from Bahamian Out Island student, Ozeke Swain, during the recent Sun ‘n Fun Aviation Show, Lakeland, FL. Mr. Lyons told the student that it was one of the best gifts that he had ever received and that he would cherish it because it was given to him as an artist from an artist. Above at the presentation, Liz , representing Stella Maris Resort Long Island, one of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s partners at the booth; Ozeke Swain, Mr. Lyons and his wife and Bahamas Aviation Department Manager, Leonard Stuart.
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The Annual Bahamas Out Island Student Artistic
Chocks competition is one of The Bahamas aviation department’s efforts
to expose students of The Islands Of The Bahamas to the aviation industry.
Each year winning students receive exposure at International Aviation shows.
In addition to providing exposure to the
students, the artistic, Bahamian themed work generated from the program,
present a first class Bahamian souvenir.
Mass produced promotional chocks by The
Bahamas aviation department, are presented annually to hundreds
of general aviation pilots who visit The Islands of The Bahamas booth,
at major aviation shows. The chocks are used as an advertising item
with The Islands Of The Bahamas on one side and a Bahamas Preferred Gateway
(FBO) on the other.
Participation in shows such as Sun ‘n Fun
are indicative of The Bahamas’ serious efforts to capture its share of
the lucrative general aviation market. The Bahamas will next be participating
in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which takes place this year in Oshkosh,
WI, July 25-31, 2011 (The Chief Aviation Specialist for The Islands of
The Bahamas has been named chairman elect of International Federal Partners
(IFP) Federal Pavilion for the premier aviation event).
Other Bahamas initiatives against the general
aviation market include their Preferred Gateway FBO program and Bahamas
Flying Ambassadors (pilots with extensive experience in flying the Islands
of The Bahamas).
About The Islands of The Bahamas:
Life in The Islands Of The Bahamas is
as culturally diverse as it is vibrantly beautiful, from the carefree Out
Islands to exciting Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island. With
world-class diving and fishing, gorgeous turquoise water and miles of picture
perfect beaches the 700 islands of the Bahamas offer visitors the opportunity
to do everything or nothing at all. For more information on travel packages,
activities and accommodations, call: 1-800-Bahamas or visit
www.Bahamas.com
.
To purchase one-of-a-kind items and mementos from the Bahamas, visit
www.eshopbahamas.com
.
© Copyright 2011 by thebahamasweekly.com
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