How to pursue a career in aviation
Nov 23, 2009
A career in aviation is a dream to many Ugandans. “I want to become a pilot†is a common statement among children. But is aviation only about piloting? Piloting and air hosting have become the common known aviation careers in Uganda. Anyone who think
By Thomas Pere
A career in aviation is a dream to many Ugandans. “I want to become a pilot†is a common statement among children. But is aviation only about piloting?
Piloting and air hosting have become the common known aviation careers in Uganda. Anyone who thinks of a career in aviation thinks of selecting one of them.
Aviation is a world beyond the cockpit. It is aircraft design, systems engineering, test piloting, search and rescue, human factors, air traffic control, jet mechanics, electrical engineering, computer systems, airport management, space exploration and customer service.
In East Africa, this industry is not yet well developed. This explains why in Uganda there are few aviation courses which include: piloting, operations and aeronautical engineering.
Piloting
A pilot who talked on condition of anonymity, says out of passion for flying, he joined Soroti flying school after completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Makerere University. This, however, is not the minimum requirement for joining Soroti Flying School. “In the earlier days, it used to be an option for people who could not go to university or proceed with their education from O’level.
“You could enrol using your O‘level qualification, but it is easy for people who have a science background,†he explains. The programme lasts two-and-half years.
Courses covered include metrology and radio navigation aid which deals with components in air and ground to guide the plane flight path. Others are flight planning, technical type rating and plotting which deals with regulating the path of a flight.
During training, one is given a student’s pilot licence. Upon completion of training, one is awarded a diploma certified by the Internal Civil Aviation authority organisation.
With the diploma, one can get a private pilot’s license which allows him or her to fly a plane, though not for a commercial purpose. One can study further to get a commercial pilot’s licence which enables one to fly planes for a commercial purpose.
The highest qualification is the Airline Transport Pilots Licence, which grants one additional privileges.
These licences are renewed once or twice a year, depending on one’s age. For those below 40 years, it is once, while for those above 40 years, it is after every six months.
The renewal is done after undergoing a number of medical tests including blood pressure and any diseases that might affect one’s performance.
Aeronautical engineering
An engineer with Kenya Airways says to become an aeronautical engineer, one must have done sciences at A’level with a bias in physics and mathematics. The training lasts three years, which includes exposing one to hands-on practical skills.
“In the third year, you sit for exams where you are awarded a diploma from Soroti Flying School. After which, you sit for another set of exams set by Civil Aviation Authority. After passing the exams, you are given license to practise,†he says.
Aeronautical engineering is divided into mechanical and electrical and the job prospects are good.
In East Africa, aviation schools include Kenya School of Aviation, East African School of Aviation and Soroti Civil Aviation Academy.
In Soroti, the fees is $36,000 (sh64m) for a course in piloting and $28,000 (sh50m) for engineering. Ugandan students who are admitted get government subsidies by paying half of the amounts mentioned.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN AIR HOSTESS
An air hostess (cabin crew member) or flight attendant is primarily aboard an aircraft for the safety and welfare of the passengers and secondly for their comfort.
If there were no services of food or drink during a flight, there would still have to be a minimum presence of cabin crew for safety, which is a legal requirement.
A flight attendant is the face of the airline, hence they are expected to excel in customer service and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic with a good sense of self-presentation.
The role of an air hostess can be physically demanding and one must be prepared to be flexible to work any day of the year. Hence there is a requirement of air hostess training to face the day to day challenges.
An air hostess can encounter different situations whilst working aboard an aircraft and must be an excellent team player with the ability to work on their own initiative using quick thinking and organisational skills.
Cabin crew keep everything running smoothly on each flight and deal with the desperate situations that arise when things do not go according to plan.
What it takes to be a flight attendant
Eligibility for a job as an air hostess varies from airline to airline and nation to nation. However, there are certain set standards for selection as cabin crew.
Age: Between 17 and 27 years (dependant on the airline).
Qualification: Intermediate or a graduate from a recognised university.
Eligibility for cabin crew or air hostess job is based on a written test, group discussion and personal interview with a panel of experts.
The aspirant must be eligible to hold a Ugandan passport (for applying to international airlines) with a minimum height of 157.5cm and a minimum arm reach of 212cm (on tip toes), which enables you to reach emergency equipment on all aircraft types. The weight should be in proportion to the height.
One must not be married, though some airlines employ married women. One must also have normal eyesight of 6/6 uncorrected vision in each eye.
Fluency in English and knowledge of an international language is an added advantage.
The applicant should be physically fit with a pleasing personality and clear complexion. After the initial screening of applicants, the airline company calls them for a written examination, usually of the objective type (multiple choice).
Those who qualify in the written examination have to appear for a group discussion followed by a personal interview of successful candidates.
If selected, one is trained for two to three months in which time one learns about service, grooming, safety and first aid; after which one is initially put on trainee flights.
Personal attributes:
Common sense, sense of responsibility, initiative, friendly outgoing personality, politeness, physical stamina and the capacity to work for long hours on one’s feet, ability to react quickly in times of emergency and a presence of mind.
Others are systematic approach, unruffled appearance, a well-modulated pleasant voice and a proportionate figure with a graceful carriage.
Air hostess aspirants are also required to meet certain aviation medical standards, depending on the airline.
Compiled by Sebidde Kiryowa
A career in aviation is a dream to many Ugandans. “I want to become a pilot†is a common statement among children. But is aviation only about piloting?
Piloting and air hosting have become the common known aviation careers in Uganda. Anyone who thinks of a career in aviation thinks of selecting one of them.
Aviation is a world beyond the cockpit. It is aircraft design, systems engineering, test piloting, search and rescue, human factors, air traffic control, jet mechanics, electrical engineering, computer systems, airport management, space exploration and customer service.
In East Africa, this industry is not yet well developed. This explains why in Uganda there are few aviation courses which include: piloting, operations and aeronautical engineering.
Piloting
A pilot who talked on condition of anonymity, says out of passion for flying, he joined Soroti flying school after completing a Bachelor of Science degree at Makerere University. This, however, is not the minimum requirement for joining Soroti Flying School. “In the earlier days, it used to be an option for people who could not go to university or proceed with their education from O’level.
“You could enrol using your O‘level qualification, but it is easy for people who have a science background,†he explains. The programme lasts two-and-half years.
Courses covered include metrology and radio navigation aid which deals with components in air and ground to guide the plane flight path. Others are flight planning, technical type rating and plotting which deals with regulating the path of a flight.
During training, one is given a student’s pilot licence. Upon completion of training, one is awarded a diploma certified by the Internal Civil Aviation authority organisation.
With the diploma, one can get a private pilot’s license which allows him or her to fly a plane, though not for a commercial purpose. One can study further to get a commercial pilot’s licence which enables one to fly planes for a commercial purpose.
The highest qualification is the Airline Transport Pilots Licence, which grants one additional privileges.
These licences are renewed once or twice a year, depending on one’s age. For those below 40 years, it is once, while for those above 40 years, it is after every six months.
The renewal is done after undergoing a number of medical tests including blood pressure and any diseases that might affect one’s performance.
Aeronautical engineering
An engineer with Kenya Airways says to become an aeronautical engineer, one must have done sciences at A’level with a bias in physics and mathematics. The training lasts three years, which includes exposing one to hands-on practical skills.
“In the third year, you sit for exams where you are awarded a diploma from Soroti Flying School. After which, you sit for another set of exams set by Civil Aviation Authority. After passing the exams, you are given license to practise,†he says.
Aeronautical engineering is divided into mechanical and electrical and the job prospects are good.
In East Africa, aviation schools include Kenya School of Aviation, East African School of Aviation and Soroti Civil Aviation Academy.
In Soroti, the fees is $36,000 (sh64m) for a course in piloting and $28,000 (sh50m) for engineering. Ugandan students who are admitted get government subsidies by paying half of the amounts mentioned.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN AIR HOSTESS
An air hostess (cabin crew member) or flight attendant is primarily aboard an aircraft for the safety and welfare of the passengers and secondly for their comfort.
If there were no services of food or drink during a flight, there would still have to be a minimum presence of cabin crew for safety, which is a legal requirement.
A flight attendant is the face of the airline, hence they are expected to excel in customer service and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic with a good sense of self-presentation.
The role of an air hostess can be physically demanding and one must be prepared to be flexible to work any day of the year. Hence there is a requirement of air hostess training to face the day to day challenges.
An air hostess can encounter different situations whilst working aboard an aircraft and must be an excellent team player with the ability to work on their own initiative using quick thinking and organisational skills.
Cabin crew keep everything running smoothly on each flight and deal with the desperate situations that arise when things do not go according to plan.
What it takes to be a flight attendant
Eligibility for a job as an air hostess varies from airline to airline and nation to nation. However, there are certain set standards for selection as cabin crew.
Age: Between 17 and 27 years (dependant on the airline).
Qualification: Intermediate or a graduate from a recognised university.
Eligibility for cabin crew or air hostess job is based on a written test, group discussion and personal interview with a panel of experts.
The aspirant must be eligible to hold a Ugandan passport (for applying to international airlines) with a minimum height of 157.5cm and a minimum arm reach of 212cm (on tip toes), which enables you to reach emergency equipment on all aircraft types. The weight should be in proportion to the height.
One must not be married, though some airlines employ married women. One must also have normal eyesight of 6/6 uncorrected vision in each eye.
Fluency in English and knowledge of an international language is an added advantage.
The applicant should be physically fit with a pleasing personality and clear complexion. After the initial screening of applicants, the airline company calls them for a written examination, usually of the objective type (multiple choice).
Those who qualify in the written examination have to appear for a group discussion followed by a personal interview of successful candidates.
If selected, one is trained for two to three months in which time one learns about service, grooming, safety and first aid; after which one is initially put on trainee flights.
Personal attributes:
Common sense, sense of responsibility, initiative, friendly outgoing personality, politeness, physical stamina and the capacity to work for long hours on one’s feet, ability to react quickly in times of emergency and a presence of mind.
Others are systematic approach, unruffled appearance, a well-modulated pleasant voice and a proportionate figure with a graceful carriage.
Air hostess aspirants are also required to meet certain aviation medical standards, depending on the airline.
Compiled by Sebidde Kiryowa