Dear Friends,

I apologize for being out of touch, but I had to put my game face on to travel 2,000 nautical miles in two days. Since Tuesday I’ve flown through the air spaces of Iran, Oman, and Pakistan.  Currently I am located on the Far East side of India, in Calcutta, after landing in Mumbai yesterday.  Being in India is a unique experience and a major change from Dubai. Although I haven’t yet had the opportunity to experience the culture here, I did make several observations from the air, where I could see the clear divide between rich and poor. I was surprised to see all the private aircraft, which I was told is an indication that the aviation industry is expanding in the country. On the down side, the poverty here is unbearable to see. As we drove from the airport, I saw people living in the streets in hammocks and washing their clothes in puddles on the road. In some areas there was a vile smell in the air.  Witnessing this poverty truly made me appreciate the freedom and opportunity available in the U.S. In the states, we all have a CHANCE to live our dreams. In some countries, it’s not an option. If you are born poor, you may die poor, whether you have potential or not. I wish I could inspire young people everywhere to rise above their surroundings, but I’m doing the best I can.

On a more positive note, I had the rare opportunity to see an Airbus A380 takeoff and land for a demo flight in Mumbai.  It was amazing to see the world’s largest civilian aircraft, not yet released, maneuver around the airport. For such a large aircraft it is very quiet. Seeing it up close was definitely a high note for me in Mumbai in the scorching heat. For all you aviation enthusiasts, I took some pictures of the A380 that will be posted on the website once I reach Hong Kong. 

Special thanks to everyone for all of your prayers. God Bless.

I'm squared away to depart from Dubai, but have one big problem and it's known as weather! Currently, strong rains and monsoons stretch from Bangkok, Thailand to Hong Kong. A monsoon is the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the Southwest in summer and from the Northeast in winter. In India, Bangladesh and neighboring countries, "monsoon season" is the season when the winds blowing from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in the Southwest bring heavy rainfall to the region. A storm setting just off the southern coast of Thailand is now drifting slowly in a northwesterly direction, crossing into my proposed route of flight.

My plan was to make two stops in India-Bombay and Calcutta-where I'd need to make arrangements for airport security and other issues that are already being handled here. After evaluating the situation with my flight team. I decided to wait in Dubai until the storms diminish, then pick up a rapid pace through India to Hong Kong. My window of opportunity will be limited, but a high pressure system will be moving through the area in a few days.

As you've seen from my previous experiences, a key part of flying is decision making. In this case, the unforgiving weather in the region is helping to make decisions for me. I'll be back in the cockpit soon, however, taking all of you with me in spirit, so get ready to fasten your seat belts!

I know all of you may be wondering why I've stayed in Dubai for a week when I was originally scheduled to be here for only three days. The reason for the delay was the need for standard maintenance checks on my plane. While these checks were being carried out, I took advantage of the extra time to prepare for the second half of my venture, which will move at a faster pace, weather permitting.

Today I want to say thank you to my sponsors, family, volunteers, fans, and all of you who are following my flight, for your encouragement and your belief in my mission. While I'm happy to know that many of you are reading my journal entries, I strongly encourage everyone, especially students, to learn more about my sponsors and to research the various products, services, and career opportunities available in aviation and aerospace. .I'm thankful to my sponsors for not only giving me the opportunity to live my dream but also for providing the means to educate others about what they too can achieve in the industry.

James Brown has a song that says, "I don't want nobody to give me nothing--open the door, I'll get it myself." There comes a time in life when we ourselves must seize opportunity. Dream, Live, Fly!!

Today was certainly a memorable for me as I had the opportunity to meet with fellow local Jamaicans here in Dubai. At a brunch organized by Nicole Williams, the wife of a Jamaican Emirates pilot, I had the opportunity to spend time with passionate Jamaicans who encouraged me to continue pursuing my dreams and encouraging students. Most of these Jamaicans were pilots for local airlines in Dubai and they made me feel at home.

The brunch was wonderful and I enjoyed great island food that I haven't tasted for a month. A special thanks to Consul General Ricardo Allicock, Marlon Hill, Suzan McDowell, Fabio Alexander, and the Emirates pilots for coordinating the event.

Today I was hosted by Paras P. Dhamecha, Managing Director of Elite Jets, an aviation company that offers private charter flights in Hawker and Beechcraft jets. I learned about their operation and the great vision Dubai has for the future of aviation. I was impressed by how vital aviation is to the country's tourism industry. This is just another example of the blooming career opportunities in aviation.

Elite Jets surprised me and my videographer, Juan Rivera, with an opportunity to go on a desert adventure. This wasn't just any ordinary adventure, but an opportunity to drive in 4x4 trucks up and down the sand dunes. Imagine skiing on sand in a 4x4--it was a thrilling experience!!

Dear Friends,

It is my second day here in Dubai and I began the day with Chevron, one of my title sponsors. In response to a special invitation from Todd Grubin, Country Chairman Dubai, I had the opportunity to brief 45 Chevron employees about my mission and venture. It was a pleasure to meet so many members of the Chevron team who have come together from various backgrounds to work in the region.

I also had the opportunity to visit Ski Dubai, which has a ski resort inside a mall. Can you believe there is a ski resort in the desert? If you don't believe me, take a look at the pictures below. I also toured the city's exquisite landmarks and learned more about the culture in Dubai. With its high rise luxury hotels, shopping malls, gold markets (called gold souks) and gorgeous beaches just beyond the commercial center, it's no wonder the population if Dubai reached 1.4 million in 2006, up from 970,000 in 2001. Dubai is a great example of what having great vision can provide to a city's residents and economy.

After departing Luxor, Egypt and flying through mild sandstorms across Saudi Arabia with reduced visibility, I finally made it to Dubai. This flight was definitely a challenge with weather, airspaces, and air traffic control communication. Thanks to my intensive preparation and close logistical coordination with Universal Weather, I flew through one of the most challenging regions in the world. I salute the many men and women who are fighting the war in those weather conditions.

When I landed, the weather was 97 degrees Fahrenheit and I felt as if I were in Miami. I know some of you may be unfamiliar with Dubai, but it is one of the world’s richest places. Words can’t explain the beauty of the landmarks nor the financial value of this manmade luxurious destination. Dubai is an architect's and engineer's dream come true. Wait until you all see the pictures!

P.S. I strongly encourage all the students and teachers tracking the flight to research Dubai!!

Dear Friends,

I just landed in Luxor, Egypt and flying across the desert from Cairo, Egypt was breathtaking. I’ve seen enough water for now and appreciate the change in environment.  Luxor is located on the Nile River and from the air you can see desert and then vegetation that follows the Nile.  The view from the hotel is beautiful and the location isn’t as populated as Cairo. Unfortunately, my stay in Luxor is a quick stop and I plan to proceed to Dubai tomorrow.  A sandstorm is brewing a few hundred miles behind me and it is best that I avoid it if possible. At the same time, Dubai is expecting stronger winds in the afternoon.  My plan is to depart at 6:00 a.m. local in order not to be caught in between.  This will definitely be a challenging flight across Saudi Arabia. What an adventure!

Dear Friends,

As the second largest city in the world and the largest in Africa, Cairo is a sight to see.  It was amazing to see the Pyramids, the museum, and the towns within Cairo. The lifestyle, customs, street traffic, wealth, and poverty here are truly different from the states.  After landing, I immediately noticed that security is definitely an issue due to terrorism.  On most street corners there were men with AK 47 guns, and checking into the hotel was like going through airport security with scanners.  In America we can sometimes unknowingly take freedom and the blessings we have for granted.  I’ve never been one to complain about misfortunes in my life and I’m just glad that I have the opportunity to Live My Dream!!

Dear Friends,

After reviewing the flight tracker, many of you may be wondering what I'm doing in Cairo, Egypt. After carefully watching the course of recent winds and sandstorms, I decided to continue my journey through the Middle East step by step. Rather than flying the long distance to Luxor, Egypt from Athens, Greece, I decided to fly to the northern portion, to the city of Cairo. The weather can change radically within a few hours, especially when it comes to sandstorms. Now I am only 2 hours away from Luxor, with better control of the situation. Safety is one of my top priorities as carefully maneuver with new challenges each day.

I’m currently still in Greece, waiting until the weather clears. 

I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the students, families, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech University.  This event is tragic and I pray that each person affected will be able to move on. I personally have a good friend who graduated from this University and I pray that his friends and teachers were not harmed.

Tragedy can make one weak and it can also make one stronger. For me, I am motivated by my mission to reach youth through aviation. Whether we like it or not, we are fighting every day against the evils of the world and the streets. In America we might not wake up to the sound of bombs every morning, but we continue to lose lives to other types of violence. I say this to encourage all of you to take the time to inspire and assist someone you may or may not know. You never know who you will reach and at what point in their life you will reach them and give them new hope for the future. Many contemplate suicide and other horrible acts. You may just be the person  who has the capability of saving a life.

Arriving in Greece was truly a challenge as once again I had more storms to deal with.  I truly enjoyed my time here and to me so far Greece is the best all around, which caught me off guard.  I’m currently delayed due to a massive storm that moved across Libya to northern Egypt. Stay tuned more stories to come have to catch up on sleep.

Part two of my tour continued on this beautiful spring day, and I’m falling in love with Rome! I visited St. Peter’s Square but the lines were too long to take a tour of the Vatican—the wait was almost two hours. I decided to socialize with people in line anyway and learned more about the Italian culture, education system, cost of living, way of life, morals, and values.  Italians are very passionate about their country, their history and their lifestyle, which includes making family a priority. Everyone I spoke with was friendly and some offered interesting facts . . . Did you know that most Italians don’t eat garlic bread, and there is no such thing as Italian dressing?  Also, Italians eat dinner around 8:30-9:00 pm and the Italian language sounds very similar to Spanish, which surprised me.

Although I missed touring the Vatican, I visited the site where Julius Caesar was murdered by the Senate. I also visited one of the 40 Catacombs, or underground burial tunnels, in Rome. One Catacomb had held the bodies of persecuted Christians; it was laid out as a huge maze that could hold more than 300,000 bodies. When it was built, the engineers were strategic in not only building the tunnels but also making sure the stench from the bodies was a minimal factor. In order to control the odor, the bodies were covered with lemon. This Catacomb was 140 feet deep and 13 miles long. This was amazing to see, and also very moving—it seemed like a sad place for a burial ground. The Romans who died were cremated while Christians and some Popes were buried in Catacombs. A few decades after Christians were freed, the Catacombs were abandoned and barbarians and others looted the graves for valuables. I was amazed to learn that when thieves were looting St.Cecelia’s tomb, they found her body intact, though she had died a few hundred years before. In the year 821, the Pope had her body removed and transferred to a church in Rome that bears her name.   

I’m looking forward to returning to Rome for a longer stay, this time with my family. But these few days have been wonderful and I’ll never forget them or the many stories from the past I heard for the first time. There is no greater teacher than history.  As a side note I decided to be brave and get a haircut in Italy which was a bit nerve racking but wasn’t bad at all. See the pictures!! 

After only a day, my expectations about Rome were exceeded!  This is a city with great character and appeal for young and old.  There was so much history to be explored, with so little time!  First I decided to visit the Coliseum. I learned about Gladiators, who were truly warriors, and how they fought animals such as lions, alligators, monkeys, cheetahs in a huge maze. I’d never seen this maze in TV shows or movies--the Coliseum was always portrayed as an empty space where Gladiator battles took place. I also learned how Christians and prisoners were brutally persecuted. They died horrible deaths and were hung on a cross where animals later devoured their flesh. Christians had the option of denouncing the name of Jesus but they proclaimed his name, knowing they would be murdered. They too were great warriors! Although time and nature have slowly eroded the Coliseum, which could hold 60,000 people, it is still an amazing sight to see the illustrious beauty of the structure.

I also visited the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, La Fontana di Trevi, churches with intricate artwork and marble carvings, and the balcony in Piazza Venezia where Mussolini gave his speech to the masses announcing Italy’s involvement in World War II.

Rome—also called the City of the Seven Hills—is a city of extremes, famous for its dazzling history and its modern fashion. The people are polite, proud and attractive, and they seem to know how to take life easy, even in the face of hardship. Walking through the streets in central Rome, surrounded by Baroque and Renaissance architecture, I understand why they also call Rome the Eternal City—the beauty of the place seems timeless. After two days here, thinking about the poets, artists, engineers, and philosophers who were part the Roman Empire, I wonder how much further along mankind would be today if that Empire had continued to thrive. I also wonder—seeing the grand buildings and fountains and cobblestone piazzas—whether even with all our technology, we are progressing or regressing. It’s a difficult question I can think about in the cockpit in the days to come . . .

But first, I have one more day to spend here—tune in tomorrow for my visit to St. Peter’s and the Vatican!

Spain is a beautiful country—I saw the East coast with its hills and valleys and then had a chance to explore the fascinating capital city of Madrid.  I wish I’d had more time there, but after a day visiting historic sites and museums, it was time to move on.  When I left the hotel for the airport, my cab got caught in rush hour traffic and my departure to Rome was delayed by an hour. The cab driver took shortcuts through the less affluent communities of the city and I got a chance to see that poverty exists in Madrid, Spain just as it does in my own country. I am truly humbled by this and thank God that I’ve been blessed with so much. 

I was running late, so I contacted Universal Weather, my flight planning team, to notify European Air Traffic Controllers.  Although I am flying by myself, there is a team of at least 50 people who assist in various areas of international flight planning, and I am grateful for their help and expertise.

On my flight from Madrid to Rome, I saw beautiful islands along the way, some with luxurious homes visible from the air. Yet each island has its own identity. The flight was relatively smooth, with only minor turbulence. People often ask why flights can be bumpy. When flying long distances, the wind shifts constantly because of various weather fronts that come from High and Low pressure systems. Rapid changes in wind, together with uneven heating of the Earth’s surface, can create turbulence.

After about four hours, I finally made it to one of my most anticipated destinations:  Rome, Italy. I’ve read about Rome in school and church and watched several TV documentaries about that historic city.  Now it was my time to see this magnificent place with my own eyes. As soon as I reached the coast of Italy, I was in awe at the beauty of the rolling hills and the elegant architecture rising from the landscape. Because of the heavy air traffic on my approach to Ciampino Airport, Air Traffic Controllers were speaking quickly with a slight Italian accent. I was thankful for my training in the states, flying in and out of major international airports with rapid-fire communication, and felt comfortable. I landed with strong winds, looking forward to exploring the past and living history of Rome!

It feels good to be on a large land mass once again.  For now, I’ve seen enough salt water. My 8:15 am departure from Santa Maria was challenging because on one half of the island there was a massive thunderstorm and on the other side the skies were clear.  After departure, I took Inspiration to 11,000 feet and saw the North Atlantic once again.  The water wasn’t the same deep blue color; it was more bluish/green. I knew the waters were not as deep as the waters I traveled over from St. Johns. Three hours into the flight, I saw a massive thunderstorm that was at least 100 miles north of me with a huge anvil top. Believe it or not, I felt turbulence from this storm as I passed south of it.

The skies were very clear until I reached the coast of Portugal.  Storms were building, and from Portugal into Spain I had quite an interesting flight through light and moderate storms.  What all the weather reports had forecasted as light showers turned into a massive storm.  Although I don’t have all the facts, I believe the storms rolled off the 9,800 foot mountains to the Northwest at a much faster and more violent rate than usual, which intensified them. For those of you who had the opportunity to track the flight, you will see that I zigzagged back and forth.  I did this to divert around some strong storm cells.  Once I reached 20 miles west of the airport, I saw just how beautiful Spain was from the sky.  The architecture of the buildings was spectacular and landscapes were breathtaking. I look forward to exploring Spain tomorrow. This flight was definitely an experience I won’t forget and it was the most challenging yet, due to stormy weather.  

Stay tuned . . .

Finally the weather conditions became favorable for a few hours before another snow storm blew through.  The North Atlantic weather was calm without many thunderstorms. That was all I needed to depart St. Johns and at 10:30 am local time, I departed the winter wonderland. I must admit that although it was difficult leaving, I was anxious to move on.  St. Johns was quite beautiful from the air.  Unfortunately on this clear day with few clouds I saw the effects of global warming.  Icebergs were melting and trees dying due to sap beetles hatching early, since winter no longer lasts as long.  It was quite sad, and to witness this with my own eyes really demonstrated the grave dilemma mankind faces.

Crossing the North Atlantic was indeed challenging.  It was even more difficult for me because I had not flown for the previous seven days and then decided to leave for this ten-hour flight.  I didn’t have any control over the weather situation and was able to land safely.  For nine hours, so many things ran through my mind such as family, friends, mentors, sponsors, and most importantly flying the aircraft.  I can only imagine what Charles Lindbergh went through because he did not have the technology or communication with anyone.  At 11,000 feet I saw storms further north and south of me.  It was as if God cleared a highway for me. This flight was indeed a tremendous challenge but after landing in the beautiful Azores, I felt as if some load was lifted off my shoulders.  I recorded every thought on paper and from this one monumental leg of my journey I’m sure that my journal of my experience will be quite interesting to read. When I was approximately an hour away from landing I read every thought and was given strength from that. 

Technology is truly amazing!! My Avidyne EX500 and Teledyne Continental (TSIO-550-C) Motor performed well.  Could you believe after 6 hours of flying I only burned 60 gallons of fuel with a speed of 175 knots!! This engine is REMARKABLE! I thank God for his mercy and grace that allowed me to see the beauty of the North Atlantic.

I would like to wish you all a very blessed Easter holiday!  I’m currently still waiting out the weather here in St. Johns and I’m hoping that I will be able to depart tomorrow.

The natives here in Newfoundland, Canada are friendly and their accent is a mix of Irish and British English.  It’s a bit difficult to understand at first, but I’ve developed a feel for it over time. The town is small with a population of approximately 150,000 residents. Taxes are a bit high at 14% but the Medicare system is available to everyone regardless of financial status.  Although I did not notice it at first, the air is quite clean to breathe in and elevation here is 700 feet.  The scenery it is absolutely breathtaking.  The mountains are beautiful and the clouds are as low as 300 feet above the ground.  I had the chance to visit Signal Hill, a historic lookout fort that the military used as a lookout point.  I truly wonder how well they were able to see with the fog and low cloud levels.  Because of the bad weather, I’m unable to see the many natural beauties of St. Johns, but I would love to return during the summer. Simple but beautiful is the best way I can describe St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.

Video From Canada

Dear Friends,

I’m alive and well here in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, facing blistering temperatures such as -9 degrees with a wind chill of -15.  It is beautiful here with all the snow and ice, but I’m ready to continue my flight as soon as the weather provides me an opportunity. I’m continuing to be patient and am awaiting better weather to cross the North Atlantic.  Although I’m a week and a half behind my original schedule, I am certainly well rested. Patience is a virtue and I am taking this opportunity to learn about a different culture that has great citizens.  I’m proud of my teammates and of my decisions so far. 

To all my fans please continue to keep me in prayers and send your words of encouragement.  They truly make a difference and is a blessing.

I’m a day off my pace but the good news is that I planned for delays.  Currently I’m still in New York and am awaiting better weather.  Yesterday was a perfect example of how a pilot should know his or her limits and fly within them.  Depending upon what the low pressure system does, I may need to stay in New York for a few days.  I constantly remind myself that this is not a race; instead it's like I'm running a marathon so I must pace myself safely. 

Video From New York - Part #1
Video From New York - Part #2
Video From New York - Part #3