Milestone for Zambian aviatrix
A 20-YEAR-old female Zambian pilot has reached the 1 000-hour landmark while flying her Cessna Caravan aircraft on the Lusaka-Kasama route.
Besa Mumba has become the country’s youngest commercial pilot to achieve the milestone.
“It has been quite a journey to 1 000 hours, and I am happy to have achieved this in the space of one to two years of flying commercially,” she said.
An inspiration to other young women, Mumba says that, like any journey worth being on, hers as a pilot has had its challenges.
“There is no short cut to success. The only way to make your dreams a reality is to stay focused on the goals you have set,” Mumba said.
“Always keep them as a priority and always believe in yourself no matter what people have to say. You are the only one who defines your limitations.”
The young pilot said she can now look forward to becoming a captain or taking the controls on bigger aircraft.
Mumba said being a pilot required great focus and paying attention to detail.
“Obviously, I really enjoy it and like to fly, just like every pilot. I just try to do the best I can on every flight schedule I am assigned on,” Mumba said.
She added that she remained indebted to her employer, Proflight.
“I have been flying as first officer pilot to lower Zambezi, Kasama, Livingstone, Mfuwe and Ndola, most of my frequent flights being along the Lusaka to Lower Zambezi route.”
She hoped she could inspire more females in Zambia to consider careers as commercial pilots
Mumba said her passion for flying had been ignited by curiosity.
“Curiosity made me venture into an aviation career. Initially I wanted to be cabin crew but I thought to myself, ‘why not be the person who flies the aircraft?’ From then I had questions on how planes fly, how they moved in the sky, and I wanted to know how pilots knew where they were and where they were going.
“My curiosity grew. That’s why I decided to venture into aviation as a pilot. I am very blessed and proud to have had the opportunity to become a pilot,” she said. – ANA