Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5140/-1/140/
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St. Thomas Teen Pilot's Flight Includes Anguilla
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Enterprising young Anguillians may be encouraged into flying when a 17-year-old certified pilot from St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, touches down his private aircraft at Wallblake Airport on Friday morning, August 31.
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Young certified pilot coming to Anguilla
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Granville T. Smith Jr., affectionately known as Theo, embarked on his maiden flight travelling from St. Thomas and stopping off in ten Caribbean Islands including Anguilla.
The Chief Minister’s Office along with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Utilities are involved in the preparations for his visit.
Smith may well be the youngest certified pilot to navigate the change of Caribbean islands.
He is the son of Granville and Eusinica Smith of St. Thomas and is one of five siblings. He is an 11th grader with an ‘A’ average and enrolled at Tutu Church of God Academy in St. Thomas and is a talented music student at the University of the Virgin Islands. He is also a musician for the Young Ambassadors Choir of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and the Ambassador of Virgin Islands Night-Out Against Crime and Violence.
At ten years old he began taking flying lessons and remained focussed on his dream to become a military or commercial pilot. He plans to attend Florida Memorial University for its Aviation Programme.
In August 2006 he flew his first solo after which his instructor commented that he was ready to do so at the age of 12 but because of Federal Aviation Administration regulations he could not until his 16th birthday.
Now 17, Granville, a Certified Private Pilot, is moving ever closer to realising his goal.