The year 2010 has seen some big changes both on St. Maarten and at PJIAE.
On Oct. 10, 2010 the Netherlands Antilles (of which St. Maarten was
formerly a member) ceased to exist and St. Maarten obtained country
status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Also in October 2010,
President Eugene Holiday resigned from PJIAE to become the first
governor of Country St. Maarten.
As a result, Director of the Operations Division Mr. Larry Donker, was
appointed Managing Director ad interim. In addition, Mr. Raul van
Heyningen was appointed Director of the Air Traffic Services Division
after one of PJIA’s longest-standing employees, Mr. Jan Brown, retired
in July 2010 after 41 years of service.
Accordingly,
Mr. Lloyd Hinds was appointed Manager of the Radar Department, filling
the position left behind by Mr. Van Heyningen. There were also changes
in the Operations Department with Mr. Michel Hyman, being formally
appointed as manager of the department, a position he held as acting
manager since 2005.
Mr. Van Heyningen, now Director of the ATS division he started in back
in 1971, is excited about the new opportunity. “Of course I had my eyes
set on this job; once you finish base training, there is always
something that’s next to achieve – somewhere next to go. It should be
everyone’s goal to advance as much as they can,” he said.
He said the only regret he has is that in his new job he has little
involvement in day to day operations at the tower. “My job now is a lot
more administrative and dealing with policy and decision making
regarding the entire department. Before this I had my department, but
now everything is delegated to the Managers,” Mr. Van Heyningen said. He
stresses though, that he is happy where he is now. “I have to pace
myself, because doing this is so great that I might forget to hold back
and take an even pace.”
Mr.
Hyman, now Manager of his Operations department, feels validated
after finally getting the position after “62 months.” He said
“everything is falling into place.” Mr. Hyman attained his Associate of
Arts Degree in Business Management from the
University of St. Maarten in June 2010. “I am sure my degree had
something to do with my appointment, so I can only advise people to
always aim for higher.”
The year 2010 has seen some big changes both on St. Maarten and at PJIAE.
On Oct. 10, 2010 the Netherlands Antilles (of which St. Maarten was
formerly a member) ceased to exist and St. Maarten obtained country
status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Also in October 2010,
President Eugene Holiday resigned from PJIAE to become the first
governor of Country St. Maarten.
excited about the new opportunity. “Of course I had my eyes
set on this job; once you finish base training, there is always
something that’s next to achieve – somewhere next to go. It should be
everyone’s goal to advance as much as they can,” he said.
the position after “62 months.” He said
“everything is falling into place.” Mr. Hyman attained his Associate of
Arts Degree in Business Management from the
University of St. Maarten in June 2010. “I am sure my degree had
something to do with my appointment, so I can only advise people to
always aim for higher.”
