Managers at Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) are looking forward to sharing the spotlight this November with Cayman's Aviation Enthusiasts as the Islands celebrate the Golden Anniversary of aviation.

"Cayman Airways is the national flag carrier and we are proud to have been able to play such an important role in aviation history in the Cayman Islands," declared CAL's CEO, Michael Adam.

Founded in 1968, Cayman Airways is owned by the Cayman Islands Government, and its corporate logo consists of the peg-legged "Sir Turtle" wearing an aviator scarf. This proud national symbol represents the Caymanian people's rich heritage of turtling.

Mr. Adam pointed to CAL's significant role in aviation over the years. "We want to show that we are committed to aviation and to the community in the Cayman Islands. We have been proudly flying for over 34 years and plan to be around for many more," he noted.

As CAL is approaching its 35th anniversary, the airline is looking forward to joining in the celebration. As one of the major sponsors of the event Cayman Airways is showing its support in a big way.

Mr. Adam promises that Cayman Airways will make its presence known during the events by providing a number of tickets for prizes and bringing people to the island for the celebration. The majority of the prize tickets will be going to the school programmes being organised for the anniversary. Three children - one from each age group - will win a trip for their family of up to four to enjoy a weekend in Florida!

The first airline to service the Cayman Islands was started in November 1946 by an American named King Parker, and utilised seaplanes to offer service. The airline was called Cayman Islands Airways Ltd and it lasted 14 months, at first operating with a Stranderry, a civil version of the Stranraer biplane flying boat, and then later with a Catalina called Santa Maria. The company offered service between the North Sound in Grand Cayman and Tampa, Florida.

The Cayman Airways we know today began in 1968 when the newly formed airline re-placed Cayman Brac Airways, which had provided links between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. At that time Cayman Airways was 51 per cent owned by the Cayman Islands Government and 49 per cent owned by LACSA, the national airline of Costa Rica.

By 1972, Cayman Airways employed a staff of 39 and started flying the Grand Cayman-Miami route. In 1977 the Government purchased the remaining interest from LASCA to make it 100 per cent owned by the Cayman Islands Government.

Today, Cayman Airways operates 3 Boeing 737-200 aircraft, flying non-stop between Grand Cayman and three United States gateways: Miami, Tampa and Houston, as well as offering inter-island service to Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica and Cayman Brac from Grand Cayman.

As the national Airline of the Cayman Islands and with its long history in Cayman aviation it is little wonder that CAL management is taking this incredible opportunity to became the first Major Sponsor for the 50th Anniversary of Aviation in the Cayman Islands.

"Without aviation the tourism business in Cayman would not have been able to flourish the way it has," Mr. Adam asserted, "Every person on the Island relies on aviation for one reason or another. It is really our main passage to the rest of the world."

"Whether that is to take us on vacation, to visit family overseas, for work, play or schooling, aviation and CAL are pivotal to the continued development of the Cayman Islands," he concluded.

Other 'First Class' sponsors for these events are also long time partners of aviation in the Cayman Islands and include in addition to Cayman Airways Ltd, Flowers Air Dispatch Services (F.A.D.S.), Texaco Caribbean and Aviation Communication. Business Class sponsors for the events are Fosters Food Fair, Tortuga Rum Company and Cable & Wireless.