THE first Nigerian female pilot and Rector of the Nigeria
College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Captain Chinyere Kalu, has
expressed disappointment at the dearth of qualified pilots in Nigeria,
saying it threatens the future and growth of the aviation industry.
Speaking on Friday at the Women in Science and Technology (WISE) mentorship programme at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Kalu said the significant gap created when embargo was placed on employment in the aviation sector did not augur well with the sector, as younger pilots who would have fitted into the transition after the retirement of aged pilots were not there.
“Nigeria does not have enough pilots. Most of the pilots in Nigeria are aged and the embargo on employment in rhe aviation sector for seven years created a lot of gap; there are no sufficient younger pilots to replace them,” she said.
Kalu said that ensuring safety in the aviation sector is a process and not a destination, noting that with the reforms by the Minister of Aviation to ensure that no “flying casket” is operating in Nigeria, sanity would be restored in the sector.
Speaking on Friday at the Women in Science and Technology (WISE) mentorship programme at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Kalu said the significant gap created when embargo was placed on employment in the aviation sector did not augur well with the sector, as younger pilots who would have fitted into the transition after the retirement of aged pilots were not there.
“Nigeria does not have enough pilots. Most of the pilots in Nigeria are aged and the embargo on employment in rhe aviation sector for seven years created a lot of gap; there are no sufficient younger pilots to replace them,” she said.
Kalu said that ensuring safety in the aviation sector is a process and not a destination, noting that with the reforms by the Minister of Aviation to ensure that no “flying casket” is operating in Nigeria, sanity would be restored in the sector.
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