Omni Helicopters Guyana's first SAR rear crew class has successfully completed its training. Curt Mendonca, Daniel Yorris, Ishwar Parbhu, Kevin Sawh and Johnelle Ogle were awarded their wings at a graduation ceremony in the presence of their proud families.

After an exhaustive selection process focused on water confidence, physical fitness and helicopter underwater escape training, the new SAR rear crew team went on to ground school where they covered rescue equipment, techniques and procedures, along with CRM and helideck operations. Simulator training in Canada provided hoist emergency response techniques and, on their return to Guyana, this was followed by live training with the SAR helicopter over land, vessel and water, with extensive hoisting operations and emergency procedures testing the team's competence, endurance and perseverance. Each phase concluded with confirmation check rides and a final written test to ensure operational readiness.

The graduation ceremony held at OHGI's terminal in Ogle airport in Georgetown was graced by several distinguished guests, among them the director general of the GCAA; the national security advisor to the President, Gerald Gouveia Sr; and the CEO of Go Invest Guyana Dr Peter Ramsaroop, who delivered the keynote address, congratulating the graduates and aligning the company's training efforts with the vision of His Excellency President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on education. Dr Ramsaroop emphasised that this initiative is a step in the right direction and urged Omni to continue investing in Guyana and its people.

“We are incredibly proud of our new team members for their hard work, dedication and perseverance throughout this demanding training programme,” says Duncan Moore, executive vice president, international offshore and onshore and group COO at Omni Helicopters International. “Their commitment to excellence and readiness to respond to emergencies is a testament to their character and professionalism. We are proud to have contributed to the development of this Guyanese capability, staying true to our promise of proactively developing the nation's aviation capabilities.”

This SAR crew team is a testament to the capabilities and will of the young professionals in Guyana. They are now an integral part of the country's national capabilities.