Women in the Rwandan Aviation
Currently, RwandAir hires only a Rwandan woman pilot, first officer Mbabazi. RwandAir hires also two others woman First Officer Ndunda and Karanja rated on CRJ-900NG.
We hope that in future the number of woman pilot will increase.
Congratulations to Agnes Mutoni. First Rwandan Female to graduate from US Air Force Academy.
29 Mai 2017
Lieutenant Colonel Agnes Mutoni is the first African laureate and Rwandan of the Academy of the American Air Force (U.S. Air Force Academy), she finishes major of her promotion, coming from a family rescapee of genocide in Rwanda. Today his ultimate dream to develop the image of the Rwandan woman in the Rwandan army. It will join the Rwandan Air Force.
Source: Rwandaises
You can also read an article abot her, published on this page, on 30 September 2014.
Congratulations to Esther Mbabazi who was on the first RwandAir flight to Gatwick (thus to Europe), on 26 May 2017. She was rated on A330, in september 2016.
Picture by Esther Mbabazi and Rwandan Elbassy in UK.
Chantal Mucyo Karerangabo and Meron Mutesi Rugazora : Female Rwandese pilots deployed with UNMISS
17/04/2015
United Nations Mission in South Sudan Communications & Public Information Office : http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNMISS%20News%20Issue%204.pdf
The number of women in ‘non traditional’ roles, such as pilots and engineers, exposes a profound imbalance of men and women in the workplace. However, Second Lieutenants Chantal Mucyo Karerangabo and Meron Mutesi Rugazora are among the first qualified female pilots to be deployed with UNMISS.
Over the past five years, the Government of Rwanda has taken steps to increase the number of female personnel and promote gender mainstreaming in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
As pioneers in the field of aviation, Ms. Karerangabo and Ms. Rugazora are doing their part to overcome the low representation of women in the aviation sector. While the pace of change has been slow, new education policies and the arrival of more visible role models like the RDF second lieutenants are helping to blaze new trails for female peacekeepers.
The Rwanda Aviation Unit has six Mi 17 helicopters that provide air support ranging from administrative and logistic support flights to cargo resupply, medical evacuations, and search and rescue operations. Three of the helicopters are based in Juba while the other three helicopters operate out of Bor.
30/09/2014
Rwandan cadet hopes to encourage more young women into military
Don Branum
Agnes Mutoni’s family fled Rwanda during the country’s civil war, escaping a genocide carried out by the Rwandan military and police forces that would claim the lives of more than half a million people. Now an international cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Cadet 3rd Class Mutoni said she hopes to improve the Rwandan military’s image and encourage more young women to join.
Cadet 3rd Class Mutoni said she hadn’t originally planned to join the military at a young age. She planned to go to school in the U.S., then return home with a degree to join.
“I knew I wanted to come to the United States because of the education,” she said. “It’s pretty expensive, so I was hoping for a scholarship.”
Mutoni applied to several women’s schools and was in the process of applying for a visa when someone encouraged her to apply for entrance to one of the U.S. military service academies. She applied, but she said didn’t consider herself in the running because of the service academies’ physical requirements.
“I thought it was only for boys,” she said. “They’re the only ones who could actually do the pull-ups or the push-ups.”
Her perception changed when Army Maj. Robert Atienza, now a lieutenant colonel, called her from the Rwandan embassy to let her know she’d been selected.
“That was overwhelming,” she said. “I didn’t see it coming. Even my sisters were like, ‘Wow, really?’ Everyone was so shocked.”
FULL ARTICLE : HERE
17/06/2014
Esther Mbabazi wheels her bag towards the airstairs of the Boeing 737 sitting quietly on the tarmac at Kigali International Airport. Today she’ll be flying from Rwanda’s capital city to Juba in South Sudan.
center;”>ESTHER MBABAZI THE FIRST RWANDA’S FIRST PILOT
Esther Mbabazi was eight years old when her father was killed in a crash as the plane he was flying in overshot the runway landing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
So when, a few years later she announced her intention to train as a pilot, the planwas not well received by some of her family. But at the age of 24, Mbabazi has made history as the first female Rwandan pilot – although as a woman she says she doesn’t make flight announcements because it scares the passengers.
“Some people questioned why I wanted to do it, they thought I wanted to be a pilot to find out what happened to my dad, but that didn’t have anything to do with it,” Mbabazi said.
“Being a pilot really was my childhood dream, I don’t think anything was going to stop it. It started when I travelled with my family and we would get the free things for kids, like the backpacks. I really liked that and I just liked to travel. The whole intrigue of this big bird in the sky, I was amazed. That and the free backpacks planted the seed.”
Mbabazi, who is fluent in five languages, trained at the Soroti flight school in Uganda before being sponsored to continue her training in Florida by national carrier Rwandair. She now flies the company’s CRJ-900 regional jets across Africa.
(SOURCE : GUARDIAN : HERE)
She wants to be a pilot.
Fabiola acheived the highest O level marks in Rwanda, and shared with us that her dream is to become a Pilot. So Ni Nyampinga arranged with RwandAir, that she meet with a pilot and got to sit in the cockpit.
About Ni Nyampinga :
Ni Nyampinga is a bi-monthly Rwandan magazine designed to entertain and empower girls to make better choices for themselves. The magazine covers topics such as Rwandan culture, health, English development and economic empowerment, while also sharing stories and advice from inspirational role models and providing fun ways to share experiences. The initiative is also supported by a weekly radio show and a t-shirt label all meant to inspire the young girls of Rwanda.
In the Air every day is different : Flight Attendant at RwandAir
08/11/2012 by Caroline Joan Peixoto
Sonia Kabuguza strides confidently into the café where we planned to meet. Smiling as she greets me, she apologises for the short time we have, “I have to be on a flight to Mwanza in an hour and a half,” she says. Indeed, the jet setting lifestyle has arrived for some in Kigali, as Rwandair launched its training program for young Rwandese women in 2008.
Flight attendants have long been admired and their jobs coveted as they effortlessly keep calm, cool, and collected at 36,000 feet. “Customer service is so important,” says Sonia, “but safety is our number one priority.”
“They train us in all aspects of safety procedures, and we have to undergo several performance checks before we can pass a probation period.”
Long before Sonia was passing aviation tests with flying colors, working for Rwandair wasn’t even on her mind. “My friend came to me one day with an advert in The New Times that Rwandair was accepting applications.” 18 years old at the time, “I didn’t exactly know what it consisted of,” she chuckles.
“I was the last to apply in before the deadline. I got through three interviews and a written exam and was in the middle of training before I realised I really liked it.”
Training is strenuous and demanding. The selected women are sent to Johannesburg for two months where Rwandair outsources its inflight training. Then, they return to Kigali to work with the national staff. Throughout the training, tests and evaluations are conducted, with candidates quickly dropping out. “Not everyone makes it,” says Kabuguza. Supervisors are constantly checking and grading one’s performance. “You must be situationally aware, reacting without any kind of hesitation, quickly avoiding any potential dangers.”
It prepared her well, as she has had to respond to several medical emergencies in her four years with Rwandair, using skills she learned in the medical course of her training. “Fortunately, we were able to give the care and attention needed.”
While the safety skills she has learned might be her favorite aspect of the job, the allure of traveling and the beauty of flight doesn’t escape her. “My favorite place to fly to is Dar es Salaam; when youare about to land and you see the ocean, it’s just beautiful…” her voice trails off.
“Every day is never the same on a flight. Every day you have different people and different situations. You are always meeting someone new, even the ones you are working with. For me, I love it.”
The tall and elegant Kabuguza was born and raised in Kicukiro, with a sister and two brothers. She went to secondary school at La Colombiere and the 22year old currently studies at the School of Finance and Banking, where she is persuing a a bachelor’s in Finance.
In 2010, she was crowned Miss SFB, beating seven other women in the tightly contested competition. Each contestant was asked two questions, which were answered in either English or French. She scored 76.6 percent, and pocketed Frw200, 000, a brand new Nokia phone (worthRfw130, 000), and Rwf 50,000 airtime. Other prizes included; a six months package of cosmetics by Sulfo Rwanda, and hair treatment, courtesy of Hair and Fashion Saloon
Flying four to five days a week and attending school in her off hours doesn’t leave much free time. “Now most of my friends are the ones who work for Rwandair, because I don’t have any time!” Sonia laughs. When she can manage it, she likes to stay active by playing tennis or swimming. And of course, “I like to hang out with friends from home, when I have a chance.”
Kabuguza encourages other young women to apply to Rwandair. “It is a great place to work, and there are so many opportunities. Not just in Rwanda, but in all aviation.” She believes that customer service is an area that needs work in Rwanda, and that Rwandair is an excellent place to learn these skills. “Often, we are the first Rwandese greeting a foreigner to our country,” says Sonia, “it’s important to give the best quality service.”
On track to graduate with a bachelor’s in 2013, does Kabuguza plan to find another job? “No,” she answers with a glint in her eye, “I’m still there, I want to stay.”
(SOURCE : THE RWANDA NEW TIMES : HERE)
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