Helicopter Seychelles gets first Seychellois pilot, new aircraft |08 September 2006

Mr Sabadin was recruited by Helicopter Seychelles Limited in November 2004 for cadet pilot training. After serving a successful probation period of six months, Mr Sabadin left Seychelles for the USA, where he was enrolled as a student pilot at Vortex Helicopter Incorporated.

An eventful year was spent in the USA, during which time he not only excelled as a student but also managed to survive a number of cyclones, one of which was Hurricane Katrina.

His studies at Vortex Helicopter Incorporated were followed by a Bell 206B 3 type rating at the Bell Fort Worth Training Academy, thus ensuring that Mr Sabadin received a full grounding in the basics of helicopter flying, before rejoining the company in July 2006. Mr Sabadin credits Helicopter Seychelles Ltd for the opportunity and the "financial and moral support" it has provided since he began his studies.

Mr Sabadin is currently in the process of converting his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license to a Seychelles Aircrew license. In order to do so, he has successfully passed his air law exam, aircrew medical, received his certificate of test flight check and is actively involved in the flying safety programme of Helicopter Seychelles Ltd. Once Mr Sabadin's license is approved, he will be flying as second-in-command with an experienced captain in order to gain the operational experience required, prior to becoming pilot-in-command.

Mr Sabadin's dedication to the profession has brought him thus far, and the Helicopter
Seychelles team "has no doubt that he will make an excellent pilot-in-command and look forward to working closely with him in the future".

Mr Sabadin's return from his extensive studies coincides with the arrival of a Bell Jet Ranger 206B-3 helicopter, well-known within the aviation industry to be "safe, robust and reliable".

The company's head, Captain Rick Dooley, says, "The purchase of this fourth helicopter will improve the overall safety of our operation as it allows us to schedule maintenance more effectively and as a service provider we need to ensure we have the capacity to address market demands."

The versatility of the machine speaks for itself as not only does Helicopter Seychelles Ltd offer inter-island transfers, but also provides services such as aerial photography, emergency medical services, filming, fire fighting, lifting, search and rescue and scenic flights.

Helicopter Seychelles Ltd has taken an active role in the promotion of eco-tourism. The fourth helicopter will contribute to Helicopter Seychelles' efforts in offering tourists a once-in-a-lifetime experience of not only having "a bird's eye view of Seychelles", but also "giving tourists the opportunity to enjoy a picnic at one of the destinations on offer such as Aride, Cousine and Cerf Island."

Siobhan Dooley