By Lieutenant Noel Lewis
JDF Air Wing

Over the period 03 – 16 June 2007, a Canadian Standards Team visited Jamaica. The Standards Team came to evaluate the operations of the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing and the Jamaica Military Aviation School (JMAS). Their evaluation of the JDF Air Wing included looking specifically at the operations that the JDF Air Wing Rotary Wing Flights conduct, and the maintenance operations and facilities that are conducted by
1 Field Workshop. The team consisted of seven persons, led by Lieutenant Colonel E D Haskins, Commandant, Central Flying School (CFS).  

As far as Rotary Wing flying evaluation went, this was done by Captain P D EVANS, an operational instructor on the Griffon helicopter (The Canadian Bell 412).  He conducted various training flights with each of the Bell 412EP pilots present at the JDF Air Wing; making observations and recommendations on how we conduct our training and manoeuvres as it relates to our operational flying.

The rest of the team looked at operations at the JDF Air Wing base at Up Park Camp and focused on observing the maintenance operations. The team consisted of Warrant Officer J M Arvisais, Staff Sergeant JJ Friolet, and Sergeant MY Guibord.  They worked directly with the technicians at 1 Field Workshop on the aircraft so they could experience firsthand how the maintenance is conducted and out of that make their recommendations.
 
Canadian Standards Team comes to the JDF Air Wing annually to look at its operations.  This year was quite important because of the start of JMAS, where their input is quite important in ensuring that the standard of the school is on par with flight training schools around the world. As a result the team that came this year is a brand new team, with no member having been on a Standards Visit before, to provide a fresh mind and eyes to evaluate JDF Air Wing so that we can maintain and improve the quality of our performance.