The Tribune

ON March 15 of this year, former employees of Trans Island Airways will gather at Watlings Distillery in Nassau for a reunion of the charter airline with the distinctive yellow tail that served the Bahama Islands so effectively for around 20 years.

A call back of days gone by is certainly in the making. This will be for many a walk down memory lane, of those days when flying was so much easier and air travel was still fun.

A steering committee of former Trans Island Airways staff has been planning this reunion for some time.

Former chief mechanic Sherman Johnson chairs the committee, assisted by Edison Joffre (secretary), Linda Aranha, Captain Gail Saunders (treasurer), Captain Ed Hanna, Joanne Aranha, Willie Clarke, and Capt Charles Munroe.

Captain Paul Aranha, who managed the airline from 1974 and became owner in 1977, is also part of the organising committee and told The Tribune he is really looking forward to seeing all the former employees.

“Many of today’s Bahamasair pilots got their start at Trans Island Airways. One such pilot, Captain Gail Saunders, is our treasurer and an organiser of the reunion.”

Joanne Aranha, of Island Purveyors, and daughter of Captain Paul Aranha, is putting the menu and decorations together.

The event to be held at Watlins Distillery (the old Buena Vista restaurant on Delancy Street) and will feature a barbecue with many Bahamian side dishes.

“It is important to have Bahamian dishes for those coming from out of town who remember the Bahamian food fondly” the organisers said.

Former employees from as far away as Europe and Canada are planning to attend.

“Many of our former employees have gone on to have very prestigious positions all over the world,” Captain Paul Aranha said. “It makes my heart good to see how far they have gone in their careers and how well they are doing.”

It is with nostalgia that it’s owner look back at those golden years of flying with the airline, which closed down 21 years ago.

However, recently Captain Paul Aranha’s son, Paul Francis Aranha, also a pilot, re-established Trans Island Airways with the familiar sunburst, but with a twist – blue is now the colour of TIA.

Captain Aranha Sr told The Tribune how the re-launching of TIA was kept a secret until Christmas when his son revealed the surprise.

“I wear the new blue TIA t-shirt with great pride,” he said.

All former employees are invited to call 535 8586 (Sherman Johnson), 702 4158 (Edison Joffre), or contact Captain Gail Saunders at Bahamasair, to purchase tickets for the event.

Tickets are also available at Executive Flight Support on the Coral Harbour Road.