After an intense selection process, Omni Helicopters, announced on Monday the selection of its first two Guyanese citizens to participate in its Ab-Initio flight program.
The two candidates, Somant Heeralal and Yadram Ramcharran were chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 20 candidates. They were standouts and are now set to undergo comprehensive training over the next 16 months at specialist flight training schools.
OHGI First Ab-Initio Pilots: Somant Heeralall (left) and Yadram Ramcharran
Upon successful completion of their training, the new pilots will be the first Guyanese pilots at Omni Helicopter Guyana Inc (OHGI´s) team.
Heeralal and Ramcharran will begin rigorous academic and flight training, culminating in obtaining a commercial helicopter license with an instrument flight rating. According to the company, this comprehensive industry-accredited pilot training program is designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the rigorous operating standards of the offshore helicopter sector.
Upon graduation, they will spend time building flight experience before progressing to be trained on larger offshore helicopters.
Somant Heeralall, who initially pursued a medical degree at Texila American University Guyana and worked at Georgetown Public Hospital, joined Omni Helicopters in November 2023. He was one of six selected individuals for specialised training, encompassing both search & rescue swimming and aviation security. This experience ignited his interest in aviation, the company said.
Yadram Ramcharran, on the other hand, embarked on a four-year degree course at the Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School in September 2017. Despite facing financial challenges during the Covid-19 period, he persevered and in December 2023, he successfully completed his associate degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, earning accolades for his abilities and performance.
During his student training, he gained practical experience through ‘on the job training’ at Ogle Airport with CAMS and Omni Helicopters.
“This opportunity serves as an important milestone for OHGI and the aviation community in Guyana. Somant and Yadram are welcomed to the OGH’s team as Guyana’s first offshore Ab-initio pilots,” said CEO of Offshore and Onshore International at Omni Helicopters International, Duncan Moore, said.
Additionally, the OGH is confident that their talent, dedication, and passion for aviation will drive them to great things and also be an inspiration to others in Guyana seeking a flying career.
According to Moore, “creating new opportunities for national team remains one of our key priorities and adds to more than half of our workforce who are already from Guyana. The OGH team will continue to make these investments in service of the goal of one day having an entirely Guyanese team.”
Omni Helicopters International (OHI), founded in Portugal in the 90s, stands at the forefront of Latin Americas air mobility and delivery solutions sector. As the region’s largest provider of these services, OHI caters to diverse customer groups across multiple segments, ensuring seamless and efficient solutions.
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