The Biography of Travis R. Compton |
Travis was born in London, England, to Leah Compton nee Nyack and Augustus Compton, on April 9, 1965. The second of two children, he and his sister, Shadel grew up on the Spice Isle – Grenada. From a very tender age, Travis was always fascinated with airplanes. As a child he spent many Sunday afternoons at Pearls airport, intensely studying the big metallic birds as they landed and took off. He was mesmerized as they went sky-bound into the heavens. So it stood to reason that his career choice was to be a professional commercial pilot. He attended Andrews University, in Michigan, and there pursued a Bachelor of Technology in Aviation - Flight and Maintenance. Aside from his commercial license, he went on successfully pursue ratings and certificates for airframe and power plant technician, advanced ground instructor, flight engineer turbo-jet, and most recently his commercial helicopter license. Most young Eastern Caribbean pilots dream of working with the regional airline – LIAT, and so did Travis. Well, tenacity and hard work paid off, for soon after college, and a short stint with Helen Air in St. Lucia, he became a proud Liat Pilot. There started his 20-year commercial airline pilot career. Later, he launched off to American Eagle, US Air Express / Piedmont, Alaska Airlines and finally in 1997 - the airline that he really aspired to work with - United Airlines. Travis was ecstatic. It was his dream to work for United. They had the equipment that he wished to master. He was determined to fly the 747, and he did! He also flew the 757 and the 767, among others. He worked with United for almost 13 years, until the date of his tragic accident on December 24, 2009. Having lived in the United States for over twenty years, Travis felt that it was timely for him to also make a contribution to his beloved homeland – Grenada. In recent years he spent a considerable amount of time on the island, becoming involved in the management of the family business at Belmont Estate, and established a retail clothing store on the Carenage, St. Georges – Jeans and Co – in 2006. His passion, though, was aviation, and his dreams were to set up some aviation related business and education facilities for aspiring pilots in Grenada . 
The life of a pilot is an arduous one - long hours, a lot of time away from home, irregular sleep patterns, rigorous training and the list goes on. But at the same time Travis enjoyed incredible perks - traveling worldwide, enjoying new places, people and experiences - of which Brazil and its people topped his list. For him, the even more important benefit was the way that his career choice helped to groom and shape him as a person. It fostered his meticulous attention to detail, his organized and structured lifestyle, his impeccable neatness in his dress, and his home, his timeliness in everything that he did, further cementing the values and traits already instilled him by his loving mom. Travis was also an incredibly disciplined, strict, principled and reliable person. But by far the greatest benefit of all was the brotherhood of pilots that he entered - making life long friends and brothers. From his early Liat days, these friendships began, forging new relationships with every transition onwards. He had a penchant for sharing, and nurturing young persons to also take up the mantle. He continued the pilot's tradition of mentoring many on their quest to fly high. While Travis loved his work, his family came first. Travis, Shadel and their step - brother and sister, Shan and Balin, were lovingly raised by his mom, Leah, his step-dad - Baxter Fanwar and grand-mother – Lyris Nyack, affectionately called “mama”. The home was always filled with activity, laughter, and fun. The family unit was very strong, and they were raised with strong christian principles, and high moral standards and values. Travis and his mum shared a very close and special relationship. He lived in Miami, but whenever he was in Grenada , where his mom lives, he would religiously spent every weekend with his parents. There he would busy himself with assisting them and repaired things around the house, while his mum fussed over him, and prepared for him all his choicest foods. He was very attentive to the older family members, always careful to address their special needs and to bring them treats and souvenirs from his many ports of call. He was blessed with a prolific family. Aside from Shan and Balin, he has four other step –brothers and sisters: Morallina, Bud, Lamm and Bakillina. His quotient of siblings was also bountiful, with ten other half – brother and sisters: Hans, Nicholas, David, Jacqueline, Lindsay, Richard, Nichole, Anthony, Brett and Jermain. Cousins, aunts and uncles he loved, and all loved him back in full force. Equally important to Travis as his family were his friends. He was a very charming, affable and caring person, and made friends easily. Calm, and quiet by nature, he valued his privacy and was the perfect person to hold the confidences of a friend. He was the consummate gentlemen, well mannered and polite, and took great pleasure in extending himself to assist, entertain or take care of his friends. Because of this, he and had a full complement of male and female friends that he treasured. 
Those closest to him like knew that he never really grew up - he was still a mischievous boy at heart that loved to pull pranks, tease and jest. He loved to laugh, and when he horsed around he would laugh from the pits of his soul. His favorite was to pull phone pranks on his friends, disguising his voice my imitating a foreign accident. He had perfected an East Indian accent, and took great pleasure in duping his unsuspecting subjects. He also was an excellent cook, and for this, like for most positive attributes in his life, his mum deserves full credit. His specialty was Indian cuisine, and he took great delight in catering to his friends and family, if only to show off his extraordinary culinary skills. Travis was also a proud volunteer member of the Miami Senior Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary. There he was able to use his expertise in flying to help pilots to improve and to train young cadets in pursuance of their license. A visionary and entrepreneur, Travis was continually exploring avenues for development or business opportunities, and even had his mind set on a career in politics down the road. He was very health conscious paying particular attention to his diet and exercise regime – balancing gym and indoor sports with biking, tennis, canoeing. Travis loved the Lord, and enjoyed the fellowship with his church family whether he was in Grenada , Los Angeles or Miami. His faith in God was strong, and he made God first in his life. He understood the risk associated with his job, and he always entrusted his life to God's hands everyday. While we will never understand the reason why God chose that he and Bancroft should leave us at the time and manner in which they did, we must take a little comfort in knowing that they died doing the thing that they most loved to do. We know that wherever they are, they are in God's care. May they both peacefully rest in God's loving hands. We look forward to re-united with them again one day when Jesus returns. |
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In Honor of First Officer Travis Compton |
 On behalf of the entire United Airlines family, our thoughts and good wishes are with all of Travis Compton's family and friends. First Officer Compton has served both United and the pilot profession well with the highest standards of airmanship and dedication. Any pilot who straps into the aircraft and takes the controls in hand, literally becomes part of that aircraft and the immense. responsibility that comes with the wonders, but also the intricacies, of flight. As an exceptional airman, he has earned the trust and camaraderie of his many fellow crew members and colleagues. In the words of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a pioneer aviator in her own right and a prolific observer of the early days of aviation, "There is something terrible about the word 'lost.' It has a special agony of its own, quite distinct from death." We continue to hope for Travis' safe return, and our prayers are with you. Sincerely and respectfully, |
MIAMI SENIOR SQUADRON #1 |
Capt. Compton, as we knew him, was a proud member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadron at the Opa-Locka airport. He came to CAP with his love of flying, the desire to learn about our search and rescue program and to become a search and rescue pilot. One of his motivating reasons for joining CAP in 2006 was to be able to go out and help someone in need of rescue. Another area that Travis trained for was to give the young teenage members or “cadets” of the CAP their first or second “hands on” flight in a CAP airplane, and encourage them to pursue their pilot's license. He enjoyed this part of the CAP program because he was able to directly share the love he had for flying with the youth of today who will become tomorrow's pilots. Travis would also share his knowledge of flying with the adult members of CAP in order to help them become better and smarter pilots. |
Travis: |
We will always remember your energy and love for flying. You will be greatly missed in our squadron and by the CAP members that had the privilege to know you. Your spirit and soul are in heaven, so that you may look down upon us as you fly on the wings of angels. May your family and friends find comfort in knowing that the time you spent with us in CAP was ever lasting. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time of remembrance. With heavy hearts and fond memories, we salute you!! The members of Civil Air Patrol |