L - R
Donald Barrett - Chief Inspector
Sherrexcia 'Rexy' Rolle, - Vice President of operations and general counsel
Captain Charles Beneby - Director General BCAA
Juliea Brathwaite Rolle - Manager Safety Oversight
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Nassau, Bahamas - Western Air, the largest privately owned airline in The Bahamas, completes Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority's (BCAA) certification process for its newly acquired Embraer ERJ 145 long range (LR) 50 seater jets. Western Air signed an agreement with Embraer to acquire four (4) Embraer ERJ 145 LR jets, two of which are presently in The Bahamas, the third is to be delivered in the first week of December 2018 and the fourth aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019.
The jet aircrafts are powered by Rolls Royce advanced, high- efficiency engines. These aircrafts have the ability to fly internationally to destinations up to 1500 nautical miles away. The 145 Jets will allow Western Air to expand to multiple destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, including Santo Domingo, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Panama. As well as northern destinations such as Toronto, Canada. While international destinations are on the horizon, the airline also plans on providing daily jet service between Nassau and Grand Bahama, Marsh Harbor and Exuma.Western Air will use its current Saab 340A fleet to add flight service into New Bight, Cat Island and Treasure Cay, Abaco.
Western Air signed a five year, multi-million dollar engine support agreement with Rolls Royce, as well as a five year Pool Program agreement with Embraer for aircraft parts and support. Embraer has worked closely with Western Air providing additional pilot support and aircraft technical representatives on site in The Bahamas who will remain in the country as the airline transitions into the 145 jet aircraftS. Western Air becomes the first airline in The Bahamas and the Caribbean region to operate the ERJ 145 jets.
The airline made a significant investment into its long standing personnel. Western Air's Captains and First Officers were sent to Flight Safety International in St. Louis, Missouri where they successfully completed their ERJ 145 jet training and went on to do additional flight training with Embraer Support Captains. Flight Safety maintenance instructors came to The Bahamas earlier this year to provide detailed training on the aircraft to the Western Air Aircraft Maintenance Department. Further, Embraer also flew representatives to The Bahamas to provide ERJ 145 jet training to Western Air's dispatchers. Additional ramp and ground training was also conducted for the ground support team.
BCAA's certification process included five phases and an extensive review, observation, inspections and demonstrations for the new aircraft type to be added to Western Air's operations specifications. The certification was led by the Manager of the Safety Oversight Department, Mrs. Julia Braithwaite- Rolle and the Certification Coordinator and Chief Inspector Mr. Donald Barrett. Western Air and BCAA are to sign official documentation on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.
Western Air will launch jet service between Nassau and Freeport Thursday, November 22, 2018. Start dates for other destinations will be announced in the coming days.
