Page 15 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

WOMEN IN WOMEN IN
AVIATION AVIATION

FACTS, QUOTES TO CELEBRATING FEMALE

CELEBRATE AVIATION PIONEER PIONEERS IN MANGO-LAND

ence, and that means every single day

By Jenni Fink of my life is fresh and exciting,” said
Mkhangeli.
ango Airlines believes that
Her advice to other young women
Mwomen have the power to looking to follow in her footsteps? “It’s
change the world and so the company not easy! This job requires you to be
has taken great strides to ensure that away from home for long periods of
women have been incorporated into time. For me, this is tricky because I’m

every aspect of Mango life. When a single mother and I’m studying at the
the airline took to the skies nearly 12 same time. You need determination

years ago, 52% of its employees were and passion for what you do in order
female. Today this number has jumped to successfully juggle all the roles you

to 68% - all of whom are pioneering need to fill to make a success. My fami-

their way through Mango-land. ly has been fantastic in helping me find
that perfect balance.”
MEET SOME OF THE WOMEN OF Diagracia Letsie - Senior Cabin Crew-
MANGO member
Nandi Mbele - Mango Pilot Diagracia Letsie is a true people’s per-

Nandi Mbele has been a pilot since son. Her fascination with the aviation

2009 and joined the Mango family six industry has been a long and exciting

years ago. Why did she want to become one and started after she matriculat-
a pilot? ed from Vosloorus Junior Secondary
“I didn’t want a boring job for the School in 1995. Her mother was work-

rest of my life. I’m a person who gets ing at O.R Tambo International Airport

bored very quickly so I need something at the time, and Letsie accompanied
that will be able to stimulate all my her mother to work one day.

Amelia Earhart Putnam, first lady of the air, plans to fly solo from senses. I need to be kept on my toes. “The one thing that caught my eye
Hawaii to the United States, according to an announcement recent- Even if you have been flying for years, that day was the beautiful uniforms of

melia Earhart was an aviation pioneer whose death ly made. Wednesday would have been Earhart's 122nd birthday. this profession allows you to perfect the South African Airways cabin crew.

Aconti nues to leave questi ons unanswered and every year A century after she was born, Earhart continues to inspire wom- your craft on a daily basis, and you get After spending the day at the very

on her birthday, the world honors her. en, but she also worked to create opportunities for women while to learn new things,” explained Mbele. busy and exciting airport, I knew it was

National Amelia Earhart Day occurs annually on July 24 and on she was alive. In 1929, she created the Ninety-Nines, an interna- Why Mango? “Since as far back as I where I wanted to be for the rest of my

Wednesday,Earheart would have been 122 years old. A woman tional organization for the advancement of female pilots. can remember, I have always wanted to life. I love the fact that I get to meet

who broke flying records, she's celebrated for both her contribu- The organization is still around today and has over 150 chapters pilot a Boeing; joining Mango gave me different people on daily basis! When

tions to the advancement of women and aviation. in the United States and Canada. The groups work to promote the that chance. It’s a very powerful air- I am on-board flying I am in my happy

Born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1897, she saw her first plane at a mission of the organization, which is to advance aviation through craft and just when you think it’s given place! Sometimes you get a passenger

state fair when she was 10 years old, according to the official web- education, scholarships and mutual support. you all it has to give; it gives you a little that is having a bad day, and the fact

site. However, the young girl reportedly wasn't impressed with the bit more power. And it’s an orange!” that I can reach out and change that is

plane and it wasn't until she saw a stunt-flying exhibition that her WHERE DID AMELIA EARHART'S PLANE CRASH? Her advice to other young women very special to me,” explained Letsie.

interest in aviation was piqued. In 1937, Earhart and Fred Noonan took off from Oakland, California in looking to follow in her footsteps? What attracted her to Mango? The

"By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I an attempt to become the first people to circumnavigate the globe. “Always work hard and never doubt bright orange… obviously! “You can’t

knew I had to fly," Earhart reportedly said of a flight she took in 1920. On June 29, they reached Lae, New Guinea, and only had 7,000 more yourself because you are a female, you miss it when you look up at the sky and

Defying gender roles for her time, she played basketball, took an miles to go before finishing the trip and landing back in Oakland. are equal to your male counterparts and you see an orange plane… you know its

auto repair course and even attended college, according to History. The last time Earhart and Noonan were seen alive was on July 2. always keep working at being the best Mango. We are growing as a company,

com. When World War I broke out, she served as a Red Cross They lost radio contact and disappeared. They were never found you can be!” which is exciting for me because it’s
nurse's aid and later enrolled at Columbia University in New York. and on July 19, 1937, they were declared lost at sea. Nokuthula Mkhangeli - Marketing great to work for an airline that started

In 1921, she began taking flying lessons and later that year AMELIA EARHART QUOTES Co-ordinator out very small but has shown its de-

purchased a secondhandKinner Airster that she nicknamed "the Nokuthula Mkhangeli is Marketing Co-or- termination to grow into this amazing

Canary." She participated in her first flight exhibition in Pasadena, Along with leaving a lasting legacy behind, Earhart also left the dinator and joined the team 12 years ago. organisation it has today. We also have

California, two days after she got her National Aeronautics Associa- world with a number of inspirational words of wisdom. She cut her teeth in the call centre and a very diverse culture within Mango,

tion license in December 1921. "Anticipation, I suppose, sometimes exceeds realization." steadily moved her way into Customer which is incredibly special.”

Over the course of her life, she set a number of aviation records "...decide...whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved. If Service. During this time she started help- Her advice to other young women

including: it is, stop worrying...." ing out in the marketing department and looking to follow in her footsteps?

1. The first woman to fly solo above 14,000 feet "The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely this is when the bug bit! “If you want to fly, you need to be

2. The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you “I love everything about my job, a people’s person. There are lots of

3. The first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, a decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the especially the excitement of coming up challenges and there are people from

different environments so you need to
military decoration awarded for heroism or extraordinary procedure. The process is its own reward." with new marketing strategies. Market- be up there smiling and be helpful no

achievement during an aerial flight. "Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, ing in the airline industry is so different matter what! Also, you need to read a

4. The first woman to fly solo, nonstop across the United States their failure must be but a challenge to others." to other industries because it is very lot; you can’t work with people if you

5. The first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the United States "Adventure is worthwhile in itself." tactical and reactionary. I also love the aren’t clued up about what is happen-

mainland "The most effective way to do it is to do it." Q fact that every day is a different experi- ing around you.” Q
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