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Govt to address shortage of pilots

What you need to know:

  • 562:- The amount in US dollars that constitutes the cost of training a single pilot
  • 50000: The total number of pilots that Tanzania has, out of whom 321 are foreigners

Tanga. Tanzania intends to embark on a programme aimed at solving the problem of shortage of pilots facing the air travel sector in the country.

Under the programme, which includes establishment of a special fund dealing with pilot training, the government has set a target of reviving and developing local pilot capacity, the acting director general of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Mr Charles Chacha, has said here.

Speaking after launching a new VHF area cover relay station at Mnyusi in Korogwe District, Tanga Region, he said the National Institute of Transport (NIT) had already applied for a licence to undertake pilot training and early this year the government permited the organisation to use the Tanga airport for practical training of its aviation students.

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The NIT in collaboration with the Tanzania Government Flight Agency (TGFA), was in the process of offering training to pilots who have a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), according to information made available by the NIT.

The institute has already established a new department for aviation studies, developed a curriculum and enrolled 40 students for Postgraduate Diploma in Air Transport Management. Previously, he said, pilot training was conducted at Soroti in Uganda. Soroti was a pilot training centre that was run by the East African Community before it collapsed in 1977.

Tanzania has a total of 562 registered pilots out of whom 321 or 57.1 per cent are foreigners and 42.9 per cent locals. “We mean to change this situation although we understand that pilot training is expensive,” he said, adding that to train one pilot it costs $50,000 besides other expenses.

Speaking particularly on the pilot training fund, Mr Chacha said that the fund, which depends on contributions made by air travel stakeholders and which was formed two years ago, has been able to train five pilots and another batch of five pilots are now undergoing training outside Tanzania.

The five students are pursuing a two-year pilot training course in South Africa at the cost of $310,000 (Sh496m).

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