CAA BOSS TASKS GOV'T TO ADDRESS PILOT, GROUND ENGINEER DEFICITS

By Sadique Bamwita

Entebbe

With a few aviation schools in the country and the revival of the national airline, the Acting Director General of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has tasked the government of Uganda to address the acute deficit of pilots and ground engineers that exists in the aviation industry.

While addressing pilots and ground engineers under their umbrella organization Uganda Professional Pilots’ Association (UPPA) in Entebbe, Fred Bamwesigye, the Acting Director General Uganda Civil Aviation Authority(UCAA), said there is shortage of pilots and ground engineers in the aviation industry which requires government intervention.
“The shortage of pilots is because the course is expensive and can’t be afforded by individuals.

Bamwesigye asked the government to increase on the training facilities for pilots and ground engineers so as to catch up with the growing aviation industry in the country.
“The training facilities are not in abundance. In Uganda we have four flying schools and in case they are full one is required to go outside the country which is more expensive. The aviation industry is also growing very fast in terms of Information Technology because new
planes are coming in place.
Cornwell Muleya, the Chief Executive officer(CEO), Uganda Airlines, admitted the gap that exists in the aviation field adding that the national airline now needs 22 pilots to fly the three Airbus due to arrive in Mid-December this year.
“ We have 24 pilots and we need more 22 who will fly the airbus expected to arrive here in mid-December this year. We have 14 ground engineers but still undergoing training relevant to aircraft maintenance and repair.

Muleya noted that though the national airline resumed operations this month, they’re uncertain of how the markets will respond due to negative effects caused by COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We are now restarting the airline for the second time following suspension of commercial passenger flights in March this year. However we are not sure how the markets will respond because they are still closed. We fly once a day to other airports and at the moment we are
not allowed to fly four flights in different countries.

Capt. Charles Kabalire, the president of Uganda Professional Pilots’ Association (UPPA) called on government to increase sponsorship for students wishing to join flying schools in order to address the gaps in the aviation industry.
“At the moment we need more students to join the aviation school but this requires government intervention to sponsor students because the course is so expensive to be afforded by low income earners.

Evelyn Enabu, a female pilot with Uganda Airlines commended the government for enacting the Women Emancipation Law which has seen females join the aviation industry previously perceived to be male dominated job.

“The challenge with the pilot job you requires you to travel a lot and operation schedule is busy and not friendly to married women. I have been in the aviation industry for 6years but the job is so tedious and requires patience and time, “said Evelyn.