The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) has granted flight endorsements to two Dominican pilots for the Boeing 737 Max 8, marking the first such promotion within Arajet, the country’s low-cost airline. Pilots Víctor Cruz and Yoryi Bonilla met the required qualifications, including over 5,000 total flight hours, with at least 1,000 hours logged as first officers on Arajet’s Boeing aircraft. Both have now been promoted to captain within the airline.
IDAC Director General Igor Rodríguez Durán visited Arajet’s facilities at José Francisco Peña Gómez Americas International Airport to acknowledge the milestone and highlight IDAC’s collaboration with air operators to develop the country’s aviation sector.
“Aviation growth depends on local talent, and we will continue working with airlines to ensure Dominican professionals can access opportunities in the industry,” Rodríguez said.
Arajet’s Focus on Local Recruitment
Arajet Chief of Operations Garret Malone noted the airline’s priority to expand its Dominican pilot, technician, and crew workforce.
“The biggest challenge we face in the Dominican Republic is developing aviation talent. Arajet alone will need more than 200 additional pilots and over 100 technicians in the coming years,” Malone stated. “We are focused on training and knowledge transfer to meet the demand required for our expansion.”
Cruz and Bonilla are the first Dominican pilots to move from first officers to captains within Arajet. The airline continues to implement a cadet program in collaboration with Boeing to train local pilots with limited flight hours, providing instruction at Boeing’s training facilities and within Arajet’s fleet.
Arajet pilots Víctor Cruz and Yoryi Bonilla with IDAC Director General Igor Rodríguez Durán. Photo credit: Arajet.
