David Woollam signs as Chief Pilot for Maldivian Air Taxi

Former Langley Flying School Graduate and Flight Instructor David Woollam has completed his sixth month as Chief Pilot at Maldivian Air Taxi. "I've got to be available by phone 24/7," says David, "and it took a little getting used to."

 

Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT) is one of the largest seaplane operations in the word, moving over 100,000 passengers a year among the near 1,200 islands that make up the Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyya in Dhivehis, the official Language of the Maldives). MAT operates 24 Canadian DHC-6 Twin Otters, was founded in 1993 by Lrs Erik Nielsen and currently employs 275 employees. During the peak season, David Woollam will oversee almost 500 operational flights per day.

 

In Canadian law, the Chief Pilot is responsibile for the professional standards of the company's flight crew, including supervision, standarization, training, and incident/accident investigation.

 

David originally learn to fly at Drayton Valley Airport, where he grew up as a farm kid. After receiving his Multi-engine Class, Instrument, and Instructor Ratings with Langley Flying School, David became a staff Flight Instructor with the school beginning back in 2001, and during his final two years was appointed the Associate Chief Flying Instructor.  "We are talking about one of our most successful Flight Instructors of all times," says Langley Flying School founder and Chief Flying Instructor David Parry. "His notable students include Ryan Gahan, Manish Marwaha, Tim Sawastky, Praeman Pillay, and Philip Craig, and all of these boys have established successful professional pilot careers," says Parry.

 

David Woollam left Langley Flying School in December of 2005 to Captain a Piper Navajo up north, and flew Twin Otters with Westcoast Aviation between April and September of 2006. In the fall of 2006 David signed with Kenn Borek Air Ltd. to fly Otters in the Maldives, which at the time provided aircraft and crews to Maldivian Air Taxi. In November of 2009, MAT consolidated its own operations independent of Ken Borek Air, and David elected to stay on with Lrs Erik Nielsen's restructured company.

 

 

Posted: September 21, 2012

 

 

 

David Woollam flashes his First Officer Insigia after signing with Westcoast Air in 2006.