Aviation Expo returns on November 7

The Aviation Expo, which debuted last year, returns on November 7 at the Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston. According to Celene Gordon, founder and director of Captain Altitude, which promotes the Aviation Expo, the event was created to sensitise Jamaicans about aviation. “Captain Altitude was born out of a vision to make aviation more accessible to Jamaican children, young people and families. We recognised that while Jamaica has a vibrant aviation industry, many young people have limited exposure to opportunities beyond becoming a pilot or flight attendant,” Gordon told Observer Online on Thursday. “Our objective is to bridge that gap by creating an exciting, interactive platform where aviation education meets entertainment, allowing Jamaicans to experience the industry first-hand, engage with professionals and discover career pathways they may never have considered,” she continued. “Beyond career exposure, we wanted to create a family-friendly event that celebrates aviation while inspiring innovation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and national development. Ultimately, our vision is to build a stronger aviation culture in Jamaica and help develop the next generation of pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, aircraft technicians, airport managers and aviation leaders,” she added. Comedian Ian ‘Ity’ Ellis will host the event, which is free to the public. Attendees will witness aircraft displays, an RC airshow, a drone display, live entertainment and a kiddies village. Reflecting on last year’s staging, Gordon said, “The response to our inaugural Aviation Expo in October 2025 was extremely encouraging and confirmed a genuine appetite for this type of experience in Jamaica. We welcomed approximately 1,300 to 1,500 patrons, including families, students, aviation enthusiasts and industry professionals. The event attracted support from 12 exhibitors and several key aviation stakeholders, educational institutions and corporate partners.” Gordon shared that the enthusiasm of the children and families was a major highlight at the inaugural staging. “Seeing young people interact with aircraft, explore flight simulators and engage directly with aviation professionals reinforced why we started this initiative. We are especially grateful for the support of the aviation community, including the Airports Authority of Jamaica, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Jamaica Defence Force and Aeronautical School of the West Indies, among others.” This year, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will have military aviation assets on display, giving patrons an opportunity to see some of the aircraft and equipment used in Jamaica's defence operations up close. Bell Textron, the international aerospace manufacturer behind some of the JDF's aviation assets will also participate, so too the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force's specialised Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team. Live performances by gospel artistes John Mark Wiggan and Prince Saj will add to the excitement of Aviation Expo 2026. Gordon stated that there were some lessons learnt from the event’s first staging. “One of our biggest takeaways was the tremendous interest in hands-on aviation experiences. Children and adults alike wanted more opportunities to interact with aircraft, explore simulators and speak directly with aviation professionals. So, this year we are placing even greater emphasis on interactive demonstrations, STEM engagement, career guidance and educational opportunities. “We have also been working to strengthen event logistics, improve the layout and flow of activities, expand the Kiddies Village and create more meaningful engagement between exhibitors and patrons,” she said.