Page 16 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

PILOTS IN
CRISIS

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

WILL WIN THROUGH

It’s been a tough seven months for the hundreds of pilots – international
and national – who have had their wings clipped and been forced to
stay on the ground. For those working overseas, the situation is far more
complicated involving the uprooting of children and families. Plans
must be made to relocate back to South Africa – where the SAA saga
continues to linger on.
Although domestic, regional and more recently international travel has
returned, the future is bleak with restrictions, quarantine measures and
limitations in place stifling the return of leisure travel and a kick start

desperately needed by the tourism industry.

As a way of reflecting their situation, World Airnews has conducted
numerous interviews with South African and international pilots across
the sector. All of the following interviews have taken place under a
condition of anonymity. Where names are provided, they are not real.
These are their stories.

PILOT TURNED ENTREPRENEUR
Take Thabo (not his real name) a captain with
Airlink. His decision to become a pilot came

later on in life, after getting a B.Com degree

and spending some time overseas. Changing
his career path at this stage is not something
that will come easy – for anyone.
“Think about it. With jobs in short supply
and some of the best, most experienced

captains out there also hunting for work – the
airlines have the pick of the cream of the crop.
Where does that leave us mid and lower-level
experienced pilots? What are we supposed to

do? We can’t keep sitting and waiting,” said

Thabo.

He has spent the past seven months, getting

his financial situation under control, getting

rid of his car re-payments and trying to live as
debt free as he can. He has dabbled in DIY try-

ing his hand at creative entrepreneurial skills
and selling them online to bring in some cash.
“Thank goodness I have no children or family
to support” he said.
Some days have been bad but he keeps
himself busy gardening and reading and trying
to keep his licence and company knowledge
up to date, reading SOPs to keep himself from
getting rusty and doing some relevant courses

like fire-fighting and dangerous goods.

“The company have been great. I would defi-

nitely go back if they called me. I have invested

so much time and money in this career it’s

going to be very difficult to do something else.

World Airnews | November / December 2020
W orld Airne w s | No v ember / December 2020
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