Universal Airlines creates Caribbean flight history
`in-flight fashion turbulence on Ghana route
by Wendella Davidson
Guyana Chronicle
September 18, 2003
IT was approximately 23:30 hrs Ghana time and about 18:30 hrs local time on September 16, when at an altitude of 35, 00 feet in mid-air, aboard Universal Airlines Flight UW 7000 en-route to Ghana, West Africa via Georgetown and Paramaribo, some 111 passengers experienced a rare turbulence - `In-flight Fashion’.
The Ghanaians numbering about 70 were on their way home from a tour in Suriname, while the Guyanese including some media operatives were there to record the event.
It’s normal for passengers aboard any airline to hear intermittent announcements of “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign as we expect turbulent weather. Please ensure that your seat belt is securely fastened at this time. Thank You.”
At that hour though, most of the passengers were quite asleep, with the exception of the Las Vegas-born Captain Randy Weston, his Co-pilot, Johan Wauben of the Netherlands and the on-duty Guyanese and Surinamese cabin attendants. The cabin, as expected at that time was dimly lit.
Then came the announcement “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s advisable that you strap yourselves in, as an historical turbulence is about to take place….”.
The voice was neither that of Captain Randy nor his co-pilot, but rather of popular local journalist, Mondale Smith, who for the `in-flight turbulence’ occasion was wearing the hat of Master of Ceremonies (MC).
Even before the sleepy eyes, including some members of the media corps were fully awake, there was another shocker, the pulsating strains of the soca music “Something got a hold of me and a feeling to let ….,” filled the cabin.
A quick glance around and the facial expressions of passengers told only one story, something’s got to be wrong, not at this hour.
Then, the unexpected turbulence which truly jolted everyone fully awake, the once dimly-lit cabin was brightly illuminated and some 12 cabin attendants, many of whom minutes before were dressed in uniforms, some complete with aprons performing their flight routine, were now smartly dressed in flambouyant-looking fashion pieces and about to transform the aisle of the cabin into a catwalk.
The unique innovation, a first for Universal Airlines and for airlines in the Caribbean was the `think-tank’ of the airline’s management, fashion designer Vonda Abeena Gaspar of Vonda Gaspa’s Designs, Cummings Street and Universal Airline’s Cabin Services Manager, Joanne Harte.
The idea which was something to behold, was without doubt well received by all aboard.
It also began when Vonda’s who outfitted reigning Miss Guyana World 2003, Alexis Glasgow, also a cabin attendant with Universal Airlines, for the just-concluded Miss Guyana World 2003 pageant, had her outfit adjudged the `Best Evening Gown’.
The mid-air extravaganza themed `Something to live for’, featured some 40 pieces of casual, semi-casual, evening and semi-evening wear of mostly tie dye, complimented with exclusive hand-paintings and batik creations.
The pieces were made exclusively for the `In-Flight Fashion’ launch.
Teaming-up, was Queen Alexis, for the occasion were her flight colleagues Ryiela, Faryel, Macia, Ferzeena, Elizabeth, Totaram, Cliff , Annicee, Cindy, Alex and Vai.
Joanne and Vonda even got into the act as well by donning some pieces and strutting their stuff.
For close to one hour, backed by music such as “I don’t want to know if I getting horn”, male and female attendants alike had the Ghanaian passengers , the local media corps and airline officials spell-bound, as they pranced along the aisle, showing off their versatility.
Most of the Gaians were by then on their feet, thru sheer excitement shouted for more when the signal came that the show was over...
Harte, coordinator of the in-flight fashion segment explained that the idea seeks “to provide alternate entertainment for passengers on long flight routes, while also giving local designers an opportunity to showcase their designs on the international market.”
It aimed too to highlight the creativity, originality and hospitality of Guyanese, and according to Harte the feature will also be extended to the New York route shortly, “so look out Guyana to New York, New York to Guyana, you’re next in line.”
Harte explained that the airline wanted to do something for local designers who do not get exposure, despite they are very good designers.
“The idea was in the making for a long time, and we thought the time is now opportune.” she said, adding, local designers will be featured every month aboard a flight, as the New York flight is five hours long.
“The idea is to keep passengers entertained,” she added.
A vividly bubbling Gaspar, described the occasion as a “Moment in time” for her.
In an invited comment after the display she said, “I feel very much like a pioneer, in view of the fact that it was in the air. I am really, really thrilled to be asked by Universal Airlines… it was absolute fun. I’m glad my designs were well received, it was a moment in time for me, it was a dream come through.”
She confessed that coming straight out of the Miss Guyana World 2003 pageant she was unable to concentrate a lot on her pieces, “so it was a real scramble to get this line out, although the idea was already on paper… four days to produce nearly 50 pieces, it was hard work but nevertheless I am glad it did work.”
Gaspar is also the designated designer for Universal’s fight attendants.
A spokesperson for the Ghanaian passengers, though not fluent in English nevertheless expressed satisfaction with the entertainment afforded them. He said that while they could not have afforded to be part of the programme “we are all one, ….cause Caribbean come from Africa, we are all one”
After some nine hours of flying, seeing day turn to night, at approximately 01:50 hrs Captain Randy Weston announced that Flight UW 7000 will land shortly at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra in Ghana.
As anxious eyes peered through the windows, the sight was awesome, thousands of tiny lights transcending the ground below in something like a fairy land.
The aircraft spent some two hours refueling and allowed a batch of some 50 Surinamese who had gone there on a tour to board and an airline change crew that had preceded the aircraft to board.
During that time, the Guyanese visitors were allowed off the aircraft to shop in any of the two duty free shops that were available at that hour. The exuberance in some members of the media corps was evident as once they deplaned they knelt and kissed the ground, a signal that they landed their feet in `Mother Africa’.
The Guyanese grasped the opportunity to also pose for snap shots at the airport, then it was another nine hours of flying before landing again at the Johan Adolf Pengal Airport, Paramaribo, Suriname and then back to Guyana.