UTT Aviation Graduate Daniella Lalsie

DANIELLA LALSIE, graduate of the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Aircraft Maintenance and Management at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), has an avid interest in aviation. A proud alumna of Naparima Girls’ High School, Daniella was taught to be confident enough to push beyond boundaries to be anything she wanted to be. For her, that was an aviation engineer. She believes the aviation industry is so remarkable that the possibility of learning something new exists each day, in such an ever-evolving setting.

As a student, the experience is quite surreal as they gain exposure to the actual components, operations, and mechanisms of aviation operations, with the presence of a Boeing 727 aircraft at UTT’s Camden Campus. With the help of skilled laboratory technicians and the availability of advanced technology, students are able to develop new skills as necessary. Daniella adds, "With pleasant and cooperative staff, the transition from high school to university was hasslefree and learning has been made easy by diligent lecturers who continuously go the extra mile to ensure that no student is left behind."

Daniella also engaged in industrial attachment at Caribbean Airlines for a brief period, during which many critical real-life operations were witnessed and documented, solidifying significant theory elements from various courses. One key operation which stood out was a C-Check done on a Boeing aircraft at the organisation, where the individual systems and components were extensively checked for serviceability and function. Elements of theory learnt in UTT’s Aviation programme were applied to this operation allowing for a successful outcome. Daniella recounts this experience as the highlight of her time spent in this programme.

The benefits of doing this programme at UTT include the availability of resources such as the library which provides a focus-oriented environment, and is equipped with advanced software programmes, and various laboratories with simulations and equipment to provide insight on how systems work.

Apart from aviation, Daniella’s interests include baking and languages, which, when compared to skills learnt in her B.Sc. programme, all require high levels of precision and accuracy. She believes in the premise that if you do what you love, you will never have to work a day in your life – a key factor in her decision to pursue this degree.

Despite the allusion to the old cliché, "being a woman in a man’s world", Daniella’s passion for the field of aviation is unparalleled, and she asserts, through hard work and good efforts, anything can be achieved.