Engineering Superintendent, Chief Engineer, General Manager, Deputy Board Chair of Guyana Airways Corporation, Director General of Airworthiness (Guyana)
Over the span of 25 years beginning in 1962 Robert Dornford’s unrelenting efforts contributed to the rise of Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC). His intellectual prowess and tenacity guided then British Guiana Airways from the era of the Grumman Goose to a competitive airline (GAC) with modern advanced jet aviation equipment, technology, and skillful personnel that was the envy of the Caribbean.
Born in Georgetown, British Guiana, on 1st February, 1941, to Immigrant parents, father from Portuguese East Africa and mother, Chinese immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago, he was the second son of Robert H. Dornford, founder and Senior. Master Machinist of Dornford Machine Shop, St Stephens Street, Georgetown.
Dornford attended Broad Street Government School and Central High School and graduated from Richard Ishmael Indian Education Trust College.
Tutored by his father, he quickly developed mechanical skills in the workshop repairing automobiles at his Aunt and Uncle’s Loy’s Garage in Russell Street, Georgetown, during school holidays and weekends. He became acquainted with Alec Phillips, the Director of Civil Aviation, and a close family friend who encouraged him to study Aircraft Engineering because there was a shortage of locally qualified Engineers at that time. Alec Phillips thought that Dornford was gifted and the skills which he had acquired would make him a tremendous asset to Aviation in British Guiana.
Soon afterwards, Dornford became the first recipient of a Government aided scholarship to study Aeronautical Engineering in the United Kingdom; he has fond memories of travelling on the French Liner SS Colombie, from Georgetown to Southampton in the UK. Along the way he developed many lifelong friendships with other students making the same journey.
Dornford, is known by many across the world of aviation as Bob, a nickname given him by his Scottish counterparts, when he attended the Air Services Training School in Perth Scotland, graduating in 1962, after successfully completing the Aeronautical Engineering course.
Bob started at Guyana Airways as a Line Engineer and worked on the DC 3 Fleet at what was known at that time as Atkinson Field. He supervised the airframe overhaul, modification and engine repair of the DC-3 Fleet and certified airworthiness after completion of overhauls and modification with his category ‘B’ License.
Bob started his career on the ground floor, and gathered much experience that served him well as he rose up in the aviation industry. He became Engineering Superintendent, then Chief Engineer. Dornford then succeeded Mr. S. H. Kennard, to become the Deputy General Manager to Lanny Abrams, the General Manager.He went on to be appointed General Manager, and became Deputy Chairman of the GAC Board before being transferred to the Civil Aviation Department, where he was appointed as Director General of Airworthiness for Guyana to promulgate maintenance procedures for the certification of the Russian TU-154M and helicopter fleet.
Dornford witnessed the growth of what was then British Guiana Airways, to Guyana Airways, then Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) from the DC-3, DHC-6 Twin Otter, DHC-4 Caribou, HS-748, B-737, B-707, TU-154M and DC-6 Freighters. He managed technological changes and diversification of fleet whilst maintaining aircraft to rigid airworthiness standards, thus providing reliability and safety for the travelling public.
Bob, along with Michael “Taffy” Chan-a-Sue, established the Guyana Defense Force Air Wing. He initiated maintenance for all Government owned civilian registered aircraft, which included the BN-2A Islander, Beach King Air 200 executive aircraft, Cessna 310G, Shorts Skyvan, Aerospatiale Aloutte, Bell-212 and Soviet MI-6 helicopters. He established maintenance administration, hangars, selection and training of personnel and maintained fleet in accordance with Civilian Regulation and Standards.
While serving as Chief Engineer, Bob oversaw the construction of the GAC Hangar which was a gift from CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) along with two Twin Otters (DHC-6) and two Caribous (DHC-4). The hangar played a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities of aircraft overhaul and maintenance at Timehri International Airport, and as General Manager, Bob was the guiding force for the growth of the Domestic and International Passenger and Cargo services that extended to Miami, New York, Toronto, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Suriname. The modern hangar provided workshops for the Airframe Overhaul, Avionics and Electrical Departments, Technical Records and Administration. His management team was responsible for the surpluses of the International Operation which subsequently subsidized the expanding Domestic Interior Services.
Bob first obtained his United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s License on November 13, 1962; a Colonial Civil Aviation License issued by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and was the holder of Guyana Civil Aviation License with multiple “Endorsements” for Airframes, Turbo Prop and all Piston Engine Aircraft. Bob is the holder of an Airframe and Powerplant License issued by the Federal Aviation Authority of the USA. He received certificates from Air Services Training, Perth, Scotland; DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada for the DHC-6 Twin Otter and DHC-4 Caribou; Beechraft King Air; Diplomas from Cranfield School of Management, Bedfordshire, England and was a Member of SLAET (Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Technologists).
At GAC, Bob initiated and held semi-annual management seminars and several workshops for both senior and junior Staff. Also developing and planning strategies to cope with an expanding Airline.
Bob had the pleasure of working with three distinguished former Directors of Civil Aviation, Mr. Alec Phillips, Mr. Robert Roberts and Mr. Guy Perry, former Executive Chairman of GAC, all of whom played significant roles in the growing domestic operation and start-up of the International Operation of Guyana Airways Corporation.
When Bob immigrated to the United States, his passion for aviation remained strong. He became Director of Maintenance at a fixed base operator, located in Miami, Florida servicing Caribbean and Latin American locations. Dornford remained in aviation until his retirement and still keeps up with the latest innovations in the field. He also maintains communications with a number of colleagues that he worked with over the years.
Bob attributes his success in Aviation to the tremendous support and encouragement of his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth and children, Alicia Arroyo, Nicholas and Terrence Dornford, Tina Rodrigues and Jasmine Johnson.
