Additional Information - Sylvester Dardaine
Biography
My aviation career began over thirty years ago at this time I served the industry in many capacities from an avionics trainee technician to the Director of Flight Safety at the Civil Aviation Authority for the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
I was an aircraft avionics maintenance person for most of my years in the airline part of my career working on replacements, repairs, and modifications. I have been employed by British West Indian Airways (B.W.I.A), Air Caribbean, Cayman Airways, Caribbean Star Airlines and Caribbean Sun Airlines. Employed by these many airlines I gained experience in the three main regulatory systems FAA, Canadian, and Europe. I entered Quality Assurance when I was with Caribbean Star Airlines Limited. In September of 2007, I resigned from Caribbean Star Airlines Limited, having attained the position of Director of Quality Assurance, this marked my exit from the airline’s operational part of my aviation career after eighteen years.
I entered the regulatory part of my aviation career when I began employment with the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority in October 2007. Being employed here was the icing on the cake, so to speak, since everything I was used to doing in airline maintenance made sense to me as to why things are done a particular way. I gained insight from ICAO, FAA, Transport Canada, EASA, BCA, TTCAA, GCA, and many other Civil Aviation Authorities around the world. I resigned in December 2023 after being the Director of Flight Safety for ten years.
I now believe that I have a lot that I can offer the industry having gained a lot of experience at various levels at the CAA, Director of Quality Systems, and Aviation Expert in avionics systems for airlines.
Certificates
Resumé
SYLVESTER DARDAINE
dtruesly@gmail.com +12687827928
A personable and decisive Division Director with over 30 years in the field of aviation. Proficient at leading teams with diverse personalities and backgrounds and committed to building partnerships. Adept at promoting organizational performance through the development and successful execution of programs and initiatives to maintain industry standards. Willingness to take on added responsibilities and dedication to meet team goals.SKILLS
- Maintenance and flight operations Department leadership
- Multiple organization coordination Operational improvements
- Quality assurance and control Employee performance evaluations
- Regulatory protocols Conflict resolution
- Inspection procedures MS Office
EXPERIENCE
FEBRUARY 2014 – DECEMBER 2023
DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT SAFETY, EASTERN CARIBBEAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (ECCAA) Ensures the safe, regular, and efficient conduct of international and local flight operations through the strategic and coordinated management of the daily activities of the Flight Safety Division (FSD).- Reports to the Director General and manages a team of senior inspectors and officers that head the departments of airworthiness, flight operations, and personnel licensing inspectors, including 3x secretarial administrators.
- Monitors the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of inspections and surveillance programs used by the FSD.
- Maintains a constant review of all flight safety technical matters pertaining to the Civil Aviation Safety Security Oversight System (CASSOS).
- Ensures record systems are maintained in accordance with the generally accepted auditing standards.
- Directs investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents; prepares and provides reports and makes recommendations as necessary.
- Coordinates the harmonization of legislation, personnel licensing standards and aviation safety oversight with other organizations:
- Drafts new regulations and has them sent out to the government department stakeholders to enact.
- Educates and enforces the regulation compliance of the
- Organizes seminars by liaising with industry professionals [ICAO, FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada].
- Processes certifications for new operators within the aviation industry and provides recurrent and upgraded training.
- Directs regulatory safety audits of air operators, maintenance organizations, vendors, suppliers, and contractors.
- Provides expert guidance and advice to the aviation industry and OECS Governments on technical, regulatory and safety matters through the Director General.
- Oversees the Human Resource duties of the FSD:
- Administers the disciplinary protocol, initially issuing warnings when
- Conducts general staff meetings every 6 months to update the department heads and additional meetings to address any sudden changes.
- Prepares the annual
OCTOBER 2007 – JANUARY 2014
AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, EASTERN CARIBBEAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (ECCAA) Evaluated and monitored the activities of approved organizations and individuals involved in aircraft maintenance activities both domestically and outside the Eastern Caribbean States.- Reported directly to the Head of the Flight Safety Division and advised them on matters related to flight safety surveillance and airworthiness.
- Operated within the Air Ordinance team under the direction of the designated supervisor and was responsible for Officer and Admin staff.
- Assisted in investigations to determine the cause of aircraft accidents and incidents and prepared all necessary reports for the Director of Flight Safety.
- Investigated mandatory occurrence reports and assessed the need for action, either by the operator, manufacturer, vendor, or the authorities.
- Oversaw and assessed all training programs used by OECS operators for maintenance personnel and made recommendations on improvements and other appropriate remedial actions.
- Monitored and maintained the standards for the handling of dangerous goods by air operators.
- Prepared, reviewed, set, carried out and marked oral and written exams of AMT candidates and established competence to issue aircraft Basic or Type licenses and monitored the performance of all aircraft maintenance engineers.
- Advised and provided guidance to industry professionals on regulatory
- Ensured regulatory compliance required under the Civil Aviation Act, Civil Aviation Regulations, and ICAO annexes 1, 6, and 8 without imposing unnecessary regulatory burden, keeping in line with the ECCAA objectives.
- Conducted surveillance of all OECS approved maintenance organizations, maintaining domestic and international standards, and surveyed the areas of airworthiness and ramp operations of all OECS registered aircraft.
- Carried out scheduled and unscheduled audits; inspected official documents, ramp operations, facilities, all registered aircraft, and conducted examinations of new inspectors throughout the OECS.
- Kept appraised on current legislation, technological progress, industry trends and other related matters in the field of aviation.
- Acted as an expert witness in a court of
APRIL 2005 – SEPTEMBER 2007
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE, CARIBBEAN STAR AIRLINES Managed the systems of quality in maintenance and flight operations.- Reported directly to the General
- Oversaw the department operations of Quality Assurance and Technical Records; 2x department heads, 2x inspectors, 3x admin staff, and a technical publication
- Authorized approval on all major
- Liaised with the ECCAA and reported to them on regulation
JULY 2001 – MARCH 2005
QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR, CARIBBEAN STAR AIRLINES Oversaw the regulatory compliance and audits of all maintenance procedures.- Reported directly to the Quality Assurance
- Coordinated with 2 other inspectors on the division of the
- Worked closely with all other departments of the
- Travelled the Caribbean, Canada, and USA working directly with contractors, suppliers, and parts manufacturers.
JUNE 1998 – JULY 2000
AVIONICS ENGINEER, AIR CARIBBEAN LIMITED Authorized the certification of all works in avionics.- Reported directly to the Air Ordinance Supervisor (Senior Avionics Engineer).
- Worked within a team of 4 engineers on the efficient and safe operation of
- Conducted troubleshooting maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s
- Liaised with A&C engineers on common
SEPTEMBER 1989 – MAY 1998
LEAD AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN, WEST INDIES AIRWAYS LIMITED (B.W.I.A.)- Reported directly to the Lead Avionics
- Led a crew of 6 aircraft
- Conducted wire repairs and part
- Provided on-the-job training and guidance to new