Solomon Airlines congratulates Pilot Lyndah Owen on promotion to Dash-8 Captain in Command

Caption: Solomon Airlines CEO Gus Kraus, Captain Lyndah Tito Owen, Domestic Fleet Captain Douglas Wale

Solomon Airlines has kicked off 2023 with congratulations to pilot Lyndah Tito Owen, on her promotion from Dash 8 First Officer to Captain of the national carrier’s largest domestic aircraft.

Captain Owen’s achievement was celebrated today at Honiara Airport with official presentation of her Captain’s epaulettes, and a water cannon salute to mark the occasion.

Since achieving her air transport pilot licence (ATPL) and joining Solomon Airlines 13 years ago in 2009, Mrs Owen first flew as a full-time captain of the 19-seat De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft type.

In 2019 she qualified to become a First Officer on the 36-seat De Havilland Dash-8 aircraft, which today operates between Honiara and key destinations including Auki, Munda, Gizo, Santa Cruz and Kirakira.

Most recently she qualified and was promoted to Captain in command of the Dash 8.

Her first flight as a Dash 8 Captain in Command took place today Tuesday 3 January, on the Santa Cruz to Honiara route, operating with Captain Geoff Posala.

“We warmly congratulate Lyndah on her hard work and achievements in order to reach her command position as a senior captain with Solomon Airlines,” said CEO Gus Kraus.

“We are tremendously proud of her, for her record of flight performance and for the example she has set for other young women and men, who may aspire to a flying career,” he said.

“Her promotion with the ranks of Solomon Airlines is also pleasing as we have a commitment to developing our people and our workforce in a way that generates employment opportunities within the Solomon Islands,” he said.

In 2017, Owen as a Twin Otter Captain and then First Officer Patricia Avosa made Solomon Islands aviation history when they operated Solomon Airlines first flight under command of an all-female crew.

They flew a Twin Otter turbo-prop aircraft on some of the carrier’s busiest domestic services - the first time in the country's aviation history.

Caption: Solomon Airlines' new Dash-8 Captain in Command, Lyndah Tito Owen