Chaguanas resident Ketonia Dominique, 25, created local aviation history when on July 11 she completed her training to attain her commercial pilot licence, making her the first locally trained female commercial pilot.
Dominique said her journey was not an easy one. She began training in 2017 but the COVID-19 pandemic grounded her hopes of taking to the skies.
However, despite this challenge, Dominique made it to her classes at the Camden Airfield, Couva, where she trained with Aerial World Services Limited.
She said, “My dream of becoming a pilot started at a young age. It all started with a field trip to the old airport in preschool where I became very interested and inspired to take on the challenge to be a pilot.”
She continued, “Being the first locally trained female commercial pilot in the country is surreal. I am filled with so many emotions I don’t even think I can explain. God knows how hard I’ve worked and how many sacrifices it took to be here. I couldn’t do this alone. My close friends and family have supported me so much.”
Dominique said her parents Broderick Bacchus and Ketina Dominique-Bacchus, along with her grandfather Mervyn Dominique, played a pivotal role in her growth and development.
“They, alongside my unpaid therapist uncle Kirwyn, my aunt Kervell and my cousins, especially Sheikana Dominique, have always been the best support system to me. This success is just as much theirs as it is mine. For every hard phase, they’ve been there to support with encouraging words, extra hugs and genuine love and advice. My mother is my rock and no matter what, she always supports me, pushes me and always knows the perfect thing to say or do every time. My grandfather’s never too busy for me, always there to encourage me to pray, keep the faith and remember that God is in control,” she explained.
The 25-year-old said getting her commercial licence is just the beginning of many more great things to come.
“My next step would be to get my multi-engine instrument rating and also further my tertiary education. My goal is to fly for our national carrier Caribbean Airlines and I can’t wait until I get there. I’m so thankful for everything and so grateful to have the opportunity to share my story,” she said.
Dominique said the qualifications needed to become a pilot are that you need to be at least 16 years of age and must have at least five CXC passes including Mathematics and English Language. She said an aspiring pilot must be healthy and be able to pass all medical exams to be deemed fit to fly.
Dominique has encouraged all young women not to be afraid to dream.
“My advice to the young women of today is that no dream is out of reach and I know that it’s so common to say hard work and consistency but it’s the truth. Remember to put God first in everything you do, pray, work hard, be consistent, self-motivated and keep the faith. Even when you feel like giving up, keep going, trust me. If you need to pause for a moment to de-stress, cry or even just not do anything that’s okay, just never quit. Don’t ever give up on yourself. Your dreams are your responsibility so pray and work hard and God will handle the rest.”
