Eron Lude, Pilot, Transportation Sector, provides insight into his exciting career at Cinnamon Air.

Aviation is a field that one doesn’t get into without a passion to fly. Personally, If I’m not flying, then I am happy to be in a small boat or Jet skiing on the river or ocean. So, being able to coalesce the two, an airplane and a boat is my idea of heaven.

Since my younger days I always knew what I wanted to become. In 2003 right after school, I obtained my Private Pilot License at the Asian Aviation Centre in Sri Lanka. I was trained in the USA at the Pro Aircraft Flight Training School in Texas for Commercial Pilot License. Followed by the seaplane training at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Florida. With the inception of Cinnamon Air in 2013, I joined as a First Officer and eventually became a Captain & Line Instructor for the airline. Since the start of my career the journey has been incredible.

Despite all things, we have to admit that Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. It makes so much sense when you look from above. Every destination that we go to, is so unique. Even though the country is relatively small in size, we have the highest biodiversity density in Asia. On every flight mostly what you see is green. Many hotspots, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, rivers, tea plantations, paddy fields, and dreamy beaches, cultural treasures, wildlife are the key things anyone would get to see from above, the scenic beauty of the countryside that you never get tired of.

The safety of passengers and the aircraft is the number one priority in my role. Which is equally important for any type of flight or operation. Along with the rest in the aviation industry, It demands a set of skills, constant training and discipline to do what we do to ensure safety. However there are lots of operational differences and challenges in between every flight operation.?

The best example is that - when we fly the seaplanes (amphibians) it involves operations in high terrain with challenging weather. There are often no prepared landing strips or runways, mostly lakes & lagoons which are the most popular destinations we fly into. We have highly trained pilots, trained by the pioneers of the industry and our aircrafts are equipped with Weather Radars, GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning Systems), Satellite Communications, Traffic Advisory and many other advisory systems to support the Pilots in these situations. Cinnamon Air is also unique given that the aircrafts are equipped with modified Honeywell engines which is a special feature that does the job perfectly.

There is a big team behind the scene who works to make everything possible. Engineering, Flight Operations, Ground Operations, Marketing and Ticketing teams. Pilots are always in the front line. We have expanded our routes and during a busy season we have been operating over 100 scheduled flights a week along with Charter and Scenic flights. Our departures are mostly synchronized with international arrivals. Our main intention is to give the clients a fast, unique, personalized streamline transfer to their destination. We have been catering to all types of client portfolios locally and Internationally.

With the inception of Cinnamon Air as Premier Domestic Airline and being the pioneers of seaplane operations in Sri Lanka, I am grateful for being able to be a part of the company which enabled me to have the opportunity to grow in my career over the years. The life of a pilot is exciting. It's the perfect career if you're seeking an adventure.