Aviation Communications has been an integral part of aviation in the Cayman Islands for more than 20 years, however their association with aviation goes back a lot longer than that. Stories of the early days in aviation spill out easily from Mr. Carl Godet, Aviation Communications part owner and one of Cayman's 'original' air traffic controllers.

Aviation Communications is one of the 'First Class' sponsors for the 50th Anniversary of Aviation being celebrated this year. On November 28th it will be 50 years since the first landing of a plane on what is known today as the Owen Roberts International Airstrip.

Mr. Godet, who has worked in the aviation field for over 55 years relishes the chance to be involved in the occasion, "I am extremely pleased that the anniversary is being celebrated in such style and that Aviation Communications is playing a key role." He remarked.

"It has been such a great experience for me to be personally involved in Cayman's aviation history. Since coming to the Cayman Islands in 1952, the same year the first plane landed, I have watched as the island's aviation industry has reached amazing heights, particularly when I remember so well how it was when we started," Mr. Godet recalls.

In 1952 there were no phones on the island and airlines operated utilizing morse code and messengers. At that time there were only two -- people working as air traffic controllers and they were responsible for providing regular weather reports to Jamaica and Miami and communicating with the aircraft coming into Cayman.

Over the years Mr. Godet watched as Cayman's aviation grew from PBY aircraft flying in once a week to jets flying in several times a day. "It is amazing the changes that have happened over the years - the equipment today is amazing, particularly when I remember the equipment we used at one time - it was basically 'junk' compared to what is out there today," he says with a smile.

Carl Godet came to the Cayman Islands from his native Turks & Caicos to provide communications for air services in 1952 with a company called International Aeradio (Caribbean) Ltd. In 1978 when --I.A.L. IA(C)L left the Cayman Islands, Mr. Godet along with Caymanian George Hunter formed a company (Aeradio Services)to continue providing these essential services for the islands.

In 1982 the Cayman Islands Government took over the role of air traffic control. In answer to a need for technical services and putting his vast experience in aviation to the best use, Mr. Godet and Errol Kellyman formed Aviation Communications. The company continues to provide technical services along with maintenance and installations of communications equipment to the Civil Aviation authority today.

In addition to Aviation Communications, other 'First Class' sponsors for the Aviation Celebration events include Cayman Airways, Flowers Air Dispatch Services (F.A.D.S.) and Texaco Caribbean. Business Class sponsors are Fosters Food Fair, Tortuga Rum Company and Cable & Wireless.