Roberto Moreland shows his certificate for the successful completion of ground school, his private pilot certificate and the award for the most improved student after his graduation from the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre. - Photos by Andrew Wildes

IN THE arid interior of Denham Town, one of Jamaica's toughest inner-city communities, lives a young man who, through the sacrifices of his family and his own commitment, has risen high above the poverty to accomplish a lifelong dream.

"Pilot!", "Pilot!" That's what his friends in the community all call him now. Just last Saturday, 21-year-old Roberto Moreland graduated from the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre as a privately licensed pilot. To top that off, Roberto attained the second-highest score in his class and the award for the most improved student!

Significant step

From left: Roberto's sister Sheena Moreland, father Carol Moreland, Roberto Moreland, mother Michelle Moreland and girlfriend Shamir Smith at his graduation from the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre at the Mona Visitors' Lodge, University of the West Indies, on Saturday, April 4.

The accomplishment is a most significant step in Roberto's ambition to become a commercial pilot, and has been one of the richest rewards so far for a family that has eked out everything to support him.

"Everything began the first time I travelled to Curaçao when I was seven, I was really inspired by the whole flight," Roberto told The Sunday Gleaner at his home on Metcalfe Street.

Carol Moreland, Roberto's father, was "just too shy" to be interviewed, but his mother, Michelle Moreland, explained that much of Roberto's interest was fuelled by his father, who had often shared with young Roberto his desire to see him fly.

"His father was always saying that he wants him to fly Uncle Sam's warplanes - from very young his father use to say that," she recalled.

It was all a dream, though, and it laid neatly tucked away until Roberto graduated from Mona High School in 2004. After Roberto's graduation, he impressed on his parents that his only desire was to be a pilot and they decided they would support him. Not knowing how they would pay the US$1,000 ground school fee, and additional US$175 per-hour flying fee, Roberto's parents took him to the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre the following Monday morning!

It was then that the real struggle began.

The Morelands were forced to rent their car and switch to public transportation. They joined partner plans and sought a variety of creative earning options to foot the high fees.

The reality was that the costs were overwhelming and, had it not been for the patience of Captain Errol Stewart, head of the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre, Roberto would probably have dropped out.

"At times, we couldn't find money for him to fly, and I would go in and let him (Captain Stewart) know and he would say, "All right, I'm not going to let him stop flying," Michelle said. "The money kept piling up though. One time I remember owing captain over $200,000!"

High cost of flying

The high cost of flying was definitely Roberto's greatest challenge. The problem was that Roberto's training required him not just to complete a theory-based course, but also to accumulate a standard amount of practical flying hours. Now, while Roberto was an excellent ground school student, as evidenced by him attaining the second-highest exam score in his batch, the high cost of flying greatly impeded his ability to complete the course in the required time. At US$175 (J$15,000) per hour, it was hard for Roberto to rack up the hours he needed.

"He couldn't fly like the other students that had money, so it would stretch for long periods because I didn't want to see the bill going too high that I owed the Captain," Michelle shared.

Flying time

Roberto explained that most students have approximately 60 hours of flying time before they acquire their licence, however he had to fly over 75 hours to gain his. The main reason was that his family simply could not afford the cost of having him fly consistently and therefore, after long intervals between flights, he had to repeat particular manoeuvres he had forgotten before he could advance.

Until he is commercially licensed, Roberto cannot legally work for hire and, therefore, higher certification is his next priority. To that end, Roberto will shortly be attending a flight school in New Jersey where the costs are not as high.

Roberto, the last of seven children, born to average parents, is now the prized jewel of his family and an example in his community.

But for now, the Pilot says he just wants to be known as "a normal youth from the inner city with nuff ambition".

Andrew.Wildes@gleanerjm.com