The UK Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster stopped in Cayman this week, in a display of the capability of the plane to provide hurricane season support to the region.
The visit was a welcomed sign for Hazard Management Cayman Islands Director Danielle Coleman with the season running until the end of November.
“Whilst we strive to ensure Cayman is prepared for all hazards, the reality is that regional and international assistance will likely be required in the aftermath of a large scale emergency. As such we work closely with other Overseas Territories, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Defence (UK) as well as regional partners,” Coleman told the Cayman Compass on Thursday in an emailed comment on the visit.
The plane landed Monday evening and departed Tuesday afternoon for the Turks and Caicos.
The C-17 Globemaster, which is 174 feet long, has a wingspan of 169 feet 9 inches.
It has a maximum take-off weight of 585,000 pounds and is one of the planes under the UK Ministry of Defence.
Coleman said seeing firsthand the resources available on the C-17 Globemaster and meeting the crew helps in local “emergency planning; knowing what resources are available to assist the Cayman Islands should the need arise”.
Cayman Islands Regiment Captain Gabe Rabess, in a comment to the Compass on the visit, described the interaction with the Globemaster flight crew as “an enlightening experience”.
“Their expertise and willingness to advise us on the aircraft’s diverse capabilities have opened new possibilities for supporting the Cayman Islands in times of need.
“Understanding the range of cargo this incredible aircraft can carry empowers the Regiment and HMCI to plan and respond effectively to any natural disaster that may come our way. The arrival of the aircraft shows the UK’s continued support for the overseas territories during hurricane season,” he said.
A Regiment Facebook post on the plane’s touchdown stated that the crew arrived here to test their landing capabilities in preparation for hurricane season.
The UK Royal Naval destroyer ship HMS Dauntless is also in the region for hurricane-relief support.
This week, the ship took part in the world’s longest-running multinational military drills, sailing into Cartagena, Colombia, for Exercise Unitas, a Royal Navy statement said Thursday.
“The Type 45 destroyer’s presence – Dauntless was participating in her second Unitas (the first was in 2012) – shows the UK’s commitment to the deepening relationship with Colombia, which is the only Latin American country to be a NATO partner nation,” the statement said.
Apart from offering support during hurricane season, the HMS Dauntless helps to counter drugs smugglers alongside the US Coast Guard.
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