Caymanian on track to pilot police chopper

| 25/05/2023 | 23 Comments
  • Caymanian trains to be RCIPS Air Operations Unit pilot, Cayman News Service
  • Caymanian trains to be RCIPS Air Operations Unit pilot, Cayman News Service
  • Caymanian trains to be RCIPS Air Operations Unit pilot, Cayman News Service
  • Caymanian trains to be RCIPS Air Operations Unit pilot, Cayman News Service

(CNS): RCIPS Auxiliary Constable Darren McLean has completed his secondment at National Helicopter Services Ltd (NHSL) in Trinidad & Tobago and is now qualified as a single-pilot captain, a major milestone in his goal to become the first Caymanian helicopter pilot in the RCIPS Air Operations Unit. McLean recently got his wings and is now on his way to the UK for the final step in his training.

During his year in Trinidad, McLean accrued over 1,000 hours of twin turbine flight time and completed over 3,000 takeoffs and landings. Many of these were on oil rigs in particularly challenging conditions. The missions ranged from simple personnel transports to urgent medevacs.

“I am confident that Darren was exposed to as wide a variety of conditions that our type of operation would allow, and he performed admirably,” said NHSL General Manager Captain Homer Solomon. “I am certain that his experience here with us has placed him on a solid footing for the next phase of his development.

“It was a pleasure working alongside the RCIPS in what was, in so many ways, a groundbreaking initiative. While a lot of planning went into it, Darren’s attitude and aptitude also made the process easier, as he was always willing to adapt to whatever challenges came his way.”

While gaining experience flying for NHSL as part of a two-pilot crew, McLean had the opportunity to fly with and learn from other experienced pilots.

“The operations that meant the most to me were always the ones where I was able to help save someone’s life,” McLean said. “At various times, we were responsible for transporting victims of motor vehicle collisions, persons with gunshot wounds, and even premature babies. It is a different experience flying with someone’s life on the line, and I was grateful to be able to help people in this way.”

The next stage for McLean before he becomes a full member of the RCIPS Air Support Unit is one year in the UK flying as a single-pilot captain for Helicentre Aviation, where he will be solely responsible for making all the decisions during operations.

“During my time at NHSL, Captain Solomon always told me that my goal should be to take the best of all the pilots I fly with,” said McLean. “So I will be taking the lessons I learned from them into this new experience.”

This final secondment will allow McLean to get the single-pilot captain hours he needs to qualify to pilot the police chopper and gain experience in different weather conditions over different terrain and in much busier airspace.

“We are very pleased that Darren has reached this milestone and look forward to his continued progress in the UK over the coming year,” said Inspector Neil Mohammed, who heads the AOU. “We know it has been a long journey for him, but he has never wavered or given less than 100%, and his hard work will continue to pay off.”

Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne said McLean had a bright future ahead of him. “He is not only on the verge of being our first Caymanian police helicopter pilot, he is also serving as an example for other Caymanians who may one day follow in his footsteps,” he said.

The RCIPS thanked NHSL for working with them on this initiative and the Cayman Islands Government for its support.


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Comments (23)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I’m happy to see this young caymanian being invested in by rcips. I hope they continue to invest in the development of more good caymanian officers who have potential. it’s always the Brits I see the CoP recruiting for specialised jobs.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    get to da chopper, bobo!

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  3. Anonymous says:

    can he do some mossie spraying at same time?

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Congrats Darren McLean, great work! As we recall, you had a major fight just to get the opportunity.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Well done Darren. Keep up your good work and always keep in mind that you represent us all and are leading the way for other young Caymanians who may have big, difficult goals.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    CIAA needs to adopt international minimum operational safety margins and flight rules for all helicopter traffic. In most urban areas, helicopters are not allowed to fly below 1000 ft unless they are in active police pursuit. Tourists and joyriding billionaires shouldn’t rattle residential neighborhoods below 500 except coming in to land at the airport.

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  7. Michael Day says:

    Nice to see. Well done

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  8. Anonymous says:

    You mean to tell me that hard work and dedication is the way to go about getting places in life? Not about who your uncle is? Could never be.

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  9. Orrie Merren 🙏🏻🇰🇾 says:

    Congrats to Mr. McLean on this achievement, which is pioneering the way for future Caymanians to follow his lead. It’s always a breath of fresh air to see young Caymanians moving in a positive direction.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    I have no problem with people achieving their goals but I do have issue with the hundreds of thousands of dollars from the public purse that was spent for this young man’s dream to come true.

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    • Anonymous says:

      7.13pm Us native Caymanians also have a problem with Govt spending money educating children of foreignors.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Cut the xenophobia, this isn’t about that. FOI how much money was was spent on this young man that could have gone to literally thousands of our other children who needed help over the last few years. Let’s see how long he stays in his position with the RCIPS before moving on to bigger and better pilot jobs elsewhere without having to pay a penny back. Our government is too quick to spend our money with little to no return on their investments.

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        • Anonymous says:

          @12:22PM Our greatest investment will always be in our NATIVE Caymanian people, so that expats can no longer say “If you don’t have us, who will do those jobs?”

    • Anonymous says:

      Glad to know that money was spent on developing a young Caymanian male even if it was hundreds of thousands of dollars; much better investment than the almost $600T spent on Oxitec’s genetically modified mosquitoes! Glad to see one of our own excelling, especially in this day and age where we see so many young men go astray. Most gratifying to hear that this young man does have a dream and is persevering to achieve it.
      Well done and keep up the great work!

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      • Anonymous says:

        But is there a contract in place where he now has to commit to working with the RCIPS for a specified period of time or pay the money back? Not likely. And there are way more fulfilling (and better paid) pilot jobs around the world that have more been opened up to him on our dime.

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    • Anonymous says:

      mhhmm ok, do you feel the same way towards all the politicians who gave themselves a salary increase even though they were making no lower than 9k ?

      • Anonymous says:

        Absolutely! The salaries of politicians in this island are way out of line with what they should be.

        • Anonymous says:

          Damm right glad you agree with me, shoot I know a professional engineer over 30 yrs of experience that makes almost 8k monthly and this is a person who is helping to improve the power systems of the electricity grid and much more but that is one of the many examples I can think of

  11. Anonymous says:

    mclean..i bet family to ex politician…lol! but congratulations!

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    • Anonymous says:

      You cannot give a complement with one hand and take it back with the other. Why not be humble enough and just give him your blessings just as others are doing?

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Well done lad.

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