₦airaland Forum

NIGERIA’S first ever pilot, Capt. Robert Emmanuel
Hayes, turned 80 on Wednesday May 13, 2015.

He has, however, has chosen to have a low-key
celebration, only with a church service, in London,
where he is currently based, to mark the day.


Send your birthday wishes


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Captain Robert Haye's Profile


By Ejikeme Omenazu, Lagos


Born on May 13, 1935, in Benin City, Edo State,
Capt. Hayes attended St. Patrick Catholic School,
Sapele, Delta State and Government College,
Warri (now Government College, Ugheli) also in
Delta State.

He picked up interest in flying while watching the
Royal Marine officers on duty in Sapele in the 50s
and desired to join the Royal Air Force.

In 1955, he became the first Nigerian to be
certified a pilot, five years before independence in
1960.

In May 1955, at the age of 20 years, Capt. Hayes
became the first Nigerian to get certified as a
pilot with the Commercial Pilot License and
returned to Nigeria in June 1955 to join the West
Africa Airways Corporation, WAAC.

Between 1956 and 1960, the young Nigerian
pilots in WAAC were allowed to fly as co-pilots on
the local routes, along with the British and
Europeans pilots. They were flying the B170,
B114 and B104 aircraft.

In 1962, Robert Hayes and Rufus Orimoloye were
sent for the Senior Commercial Pilot Licence
training where they were made to fly the DC3
aircraft.

While in training, they were promoted captains.
When they returned home, they were asked to go
for further training on F27 aircraft, which the
country’s airline, Nigeria Airways, had acquired.

The Nigerian pilots were able to start flying the
international routes eventually in 1962 when the
Nigeria Airways was formed.

Captain Hayes also became the first Nigerian pilot
to fly into New York and served as acting
managing director of the defunct national carrier,
Nigeria Airways.

Many pilots at that time passed through the
supervision of Captain Bob Hayes.

He retired in 1990 after attaining the mandatory
35 years in service.

He was the first Nigerian pilot to attain that age
in service.

He worked on contract as a training captain and
examiner, thereafter.

Captain Hayes flew for 40 years in control and
four years on contract consulting for Nigeria Airways.

One of his younger pilots in Nigeria Airways who
rose to become Director of Operations, Capt. Dele
Ore, had this to say of Capt Hayes: “Capt. Bob
Hayes is my respected senior and a motivator.

“He went through a lot while fighting for us his
younger pilots. He is a well respected airman. I
wish him a happy birthday.’’

Experts believe that his was the golden
generation of pilots in the country at a time
Nigerian pilots were rated some of the best in the
world.

In his time, Nigeria witnessed fewer number of air
incidents and accidents because the adherence of
pilots at the time to standard operating procedures spelt out by both the civil aviation authority in the country and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).



Source: http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/05/nigerias-first-pilot-hayes-clocks-80/

Him no get picture?

I honestly tried to get his pix but couldn't find any!

benuejosh:
Him no get picture?

add pics so we can drag it to fp