In 1928  when Charles Lindberg surveyed the Caribbean for Pan American Airlines he passed by the British Virgin Islands. "Natures Little Secret" remained a secret. It took another 20 years for the Aviation Industry to touch down in the BVI.

The first daring pilot arrived in the late 40's with Seabee Amphibian which he landed on the water at Anegada where  he  picked up lobsters to take back to St. Thomas.

A decade later in 1954, a small strip was cleared on western Anegada where once a week a small two-seater Luscombe airplane picked up about 100 pounds of lobster which were sold in St. Thomas. At that time there wasn't a wheeled vehicle on the island, not a car, not a bicycle, not even a wheelbarrow. To fill in holes on the make shift runway a "Spanish wheelbarrow" was used. This local concoction consisted of a wooden box with handles at each end so two men could carry it.

The same year Bill Bailey from St. Thomas acquired Buck Island, a small island a short distance off Tortola's southern shore. At low tide he had a bulldozer cross the shallow waters to the island to clear a home site. At the time the stony beach on the east side was cleared for makeshift runway that was only 11 feet wide. After landing, the pilot had to get out and lift the tail of the plane over the rock pile so that he could taxi back for takeoff.

During this time the Hon. J.A.C. Cruikshank who was the British Virgin Islands' Commissioner proceed  that the Agriculture Station, north of Road Town (where the J.R. O'Neal Botanical Garden is today), could make a possible landing site. Interested in more substantial site, pilot, Jack Monsanto said he could land at the Agriculture Station as an acrobatic feat but preferred Beef Island as a location and inquired about the possibility of clearing an airstrip there.

With the help of Vladslav Wagner who was operating a boat ramp at Trellis Bay, Beef Island the idea came to pass. Wagner agreed to build a strip 1,800 feet by 100 feet for $20,000.00. Concerned that the strip might be built and then never used Commissioner Cruikshank thought this investment was a bit risky. Monsanto guaranteed the air service if the strip was completed and construction soon began with local businessman Obel Penn of East End supervising.

In the next few years Beef Island Airport gradually became more active. Some of the earliest airlines serving the BVI included Island Air, All Island Air, Carib Air, Prinair, LIAT and Air BVI- names that many of the islands' old timers might remember.

Another pioneer in seaplane aviation Charlie Blair (actress Maureen O'Hara's husband) formed Antilles Air Boats based in St. Croix. In 1966 Antilles began serving the BVI. This was a romantic period when flying boats connected St. Thomas and St. John to Tortola at Sopers Hole and Road Harbour. The twin engine goose would swoop down over MacNamara to alight gracefully in Road Harbour. The colorful Crafts Alive Village now occupies what then was the sea plane ramp area. The Goose would taxi up the ramp with a great roar of engines, propellers flinging spray back into the bay. After turning her around to face the bay the pilot would shut down the engines and the roar would cease wile sparkling droplets of water dripped off her sleek hull. One could almost imagine her shaking herself off like a Labrador Retriever.

When the waters of Road Harbour were mirror smooth the transition from airborne to waterborne was noticeable only by a gentle hiss as the hull  touched the water. However, the water was seldom that smooth! As traffic in Road Harbour increased from the burgeoning yacht charter business, Antilles Air Boats reluctantly ceased operations there and concentrated on West End. Delivery to Road Town was so convenient while it lasted.

In the 1960's the Royal Engineers added 800 feet to each end of the runway at Beef Island allowing larger aircraft access. It was becoming apparent that some kind of official control would be necessary. Local islanders Milton Creque and Corbett Wheatley were sent to Trinidad for training as Air Traffic Controllers. Upon their return the decision was made to have them work in the St. Thomas Control Tower for a couple of years to gain experience. Milton Creque went on to become the first Director of Civil Aviation while Corbett Wheatley runs a land based transportation business.

During this time Carris Penn was Chief customs Officer at the Airport. Since air traffic was light he occasionally also acted as Immigration Officer and Air Traffic Controller using a small platform atop the Airport lounge. If Mr. Penn happened to be reading his bible when you arrived he might quote a scripture or  two while you were being cleared.

A runway extension  was planned in 1964. Notices were published that for two months the field would only be open to traffic from first light of day until 6:30 p.m. Contrast that with today's traffic of nearly 250 daily aircraft arrivals and departures during the busy season.

Later in 1966 De Haviland Company brought in a DHC-6 twin otter-a prop jet, the first such aircraft  to land at Beef Island. A historic moment occurred  on 2^nd December 1967 when the "Great Fly-in" was held to mark the end of Beef Island as an uncontrolled Airport. From that point forward Beef Island Airport was marked as an official International Island Airport for commercial carriers. However, regulations were still a bit loose. One resident remembers a humorous moment coming  from Virgin Gorda to Beef Island. She thought it was a direct flight but the pilot stopped at Anegada to pick up some workers. This made one passenger too many so the pilot put the lady in the lap of a husky worker and put the seat belt around both of them.

Virgin Gorda Airport (Taddy Bay Airport) was opened in 1966 primarily to serve Little Dix Bay Resort. It was, until 2005 a private airport. Auguste George Airport situated on Anegada is the third Airport in the British Virgin Islands. This Airport was named after a prominent Anegadian.

1968 was a watershed year for the BVI Aviation. The Royal Engineers began improving the landing  field in an eight-month project which increased the runway length to approximately 3,600 feet allowing much larger aircraft to land.

The Beef Island Airport was in 2002 renamed to Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport in honour of the late Terrance B. Lettsome, (a former Minister of Communications and Works), at the time of expansion by the Royal Engineers. Approved heliports are located at Necker Island, Biras Creek, Peter Island, Road Town and Beef Island.

Over the years Beef Island Airport's terminal facilities also evolved with the airports original arrival area being  a couple of wooden shacks giving way to a prefab Terminal in 1970's. A new impressive Terminal Building with arched roof and tall glass walls was opened for public use in March 2002. The runway was extended toward Trellis Bay giving a total length of approximatelty 4,650 feet. A new air traffic control tower, which rises to an impressive 80 feet above sea level, and is the islands' tallest building, was also completed.

From the early seaplanes to modern commercial aircraft the BVI has made a lot of progress in 50 plus years of aviation history.  

Emmet Evans