Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Captain Barrington Irving Jr. (left), the youngest and first black pilot to fly solo around the world, greets airport workers and well-wishers as he arrives at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday morning, for a four-day visit.

Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Captain Barrington Irving Jr., the Jamaican-born American who recently broke records flying solo around the world, yesterday set foot on the land of his birth with bright hopes of inspiring young Jamaicans to follow in his footsteps.

The 23-year-old aviator shared his vision of working along with inner-city youths to fulfil their dreams - hoping they may see him as a motivation to pursue careers in aviation.

"There are many youths out there that may have great visions and great dreams and might get discouraged - [I hope] to inspire them," Capt. Irving said. "It's not as if I started from an affluent background [but] it doesn't matter where you come from, if there is something you want to do, you have to just do it."

Born in Marlie Hill, St. Catherine, Capt. Irving left Jamaica at age six for an inner city of Miami where he resisted the negative influences of the streets to become one of the top students at his high school.

With his newly established aviation school, Experience Aviation Inc., located in Miami, Florida, Capt. Irving hopes to get young people interested in aerospace and aviation.

"Unfortunately a lot of inner-city youth have no understanding of the opportunities available in aviation and aerospace because of the aging workforce and we have to address [this]."

Showing great determination, he started his own company in 2005 after constantly being turned down for sponsorship by other non-profit organisations.

"We've been able to expand our learning centre and are preparing to open our doors in September where we can accommodate 20 students at a time for field trips and eight-week courses [taught] after school."

Capt. Irving arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston at 8:10 a.m. and was welcomed by government ministers, family members, friends and well wishers.

Aloun Assamba, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture; Mike Henry, Opposition Spokesman on Transport; Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill, along with other local aviation interests, comprised the official welcoming party.

Built from donations

Capt. Irving, also an aerospace student, 'jetted' off on March 23, from Miami, in a small single-engine plane built from donations he received and assembled by aircraft manufacturers, Columbia Aircraft.

Journeying through countries such as Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, he ended 97 days later on June 27 with a double world record, as the youngest and first black pilot to fly solo around the world.

Unpredictable weather conditions and clearances through air spaces such as Pakistan and Iran were a few of the challenges encountered by the young pilot on his journey.

He told reporters that he persisted because of his faith in God.

"When I was first flying across the North Atlantic I was saying to God what was I thinking? I lost 15 pounds, it was really a dangerous job," he said.

Capt. Irving will spend four days in Jamaica, where he will meet and rap with students across the island, visit his birth place, St. Joseph's hospital in Kingston and pay a courtesy visit to the Governor-General.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com