JOHANNESBURG – Despite latest reports suggesting faults with one of the biggest names in the aviation industry, the Boeing Company, a young South African female Lebogang Betty Mokwena has just landed her first job as a commercial pilot.
She is a 25-year-old BA Degree graduate in politics and psychology and reveals how her mother influenced her dreams.
According to the Good Things Guy website, Mokwena was born and raised in Johannesburg and had always wanted to fly an airplane, yet her mother was concerned because of the industry’s fragility.
Because pilots are only allowed to fly upon obtaining a medical clearance certificate, Mokwena’s mother encouraged her daughter to go to university to study something else just in case her aviation aspirations didn’t pan out.
After graduating with a BA degree majoring in psychology and politics, she discovered that she loved psychology and went on to do her Honours degree.
Following her academic success, Mokwena pursued her dream of becoming a pilot and launched flying training at the Lanseria-based 43 Air school in 2017 and completed it in 2018.
“Thereafter I did my type rating course and became type rated and qualified to fly a Boeing 737 jet. In January this year, I started GrIII my instructors’ course at PTC Aviation and qualified as an instructor in March,� said Mokwena to Good Things Guy.
“I plan on venturing into something called aviation psychology, which would merge my two career fields and would require me to get my masters degree,� she added.
Moreover, Mokwena has just started her first job in aviation In June as an instructor at 43 Air School, but also harbours the ambitions of furthering her career in psychology.
“I’m hoping our new Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula provides our industry with more bursaries. Not just for flying but for other important sectors in the industry such as aircraft maintenance officers and Air traffic controllers, to name a few,� she urged.
Meanwhile, her message to the young females out there is that no matter the challenges one is facing, anything is possible.
“One thing I’d say to little girls is: it is possible. With hard work and dedication, learning how to fly is attainable regardless of your gender,� concluded Mokwena.
Photo: Good Things Guy website/supplied
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