Esther was born in Burundi to Rwandese parents. She became the first female Rwandese pilot in 2012. Esther took the decision to become a pilot few years after her father was killed in a crash; the plane he was flying in overshot the runway landing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She said that the death of her father has influenced the way she flies.
Lieutenant Ouma Laouali, 28, on the 21st of October became the first female pilot in Niger. She was one of the Nigerien Airforce members trained by the United States as part of a programme to help fight the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Just as women in politics and business are celebrated, Lieutenant Ouma is celebrated for joining the league of amazing first female pilots in Africa. These female pilots challenge sexist views that men are better suited as pilots. The announcement of Ouma as the first female pilot in Niger is a welcome development.
28 year-old Lieutenant Ouma Laouali has broken Niger’s military glass ceiling with the historic news that she has become the first female pilot to serve in Niger’s Armed Forces.
Lt. Laouali received her pilot training in the United States and she “will be flying the Cessna aircraft two of which were handed over by the US to Niger in a ceremony in the capital Niamey,” recently.
The historic development is proof that women in Africa are pushing boundaries and scaling barriers. Lt Laouali is a beneficiary of a U.S. training programme to help fight the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram, wreaking havoc in parts of West Africa.
The training programme and the aircraft that Niger received from the U.S.were part of a security co-operation deal worth $24m (£16m).
The aircraft that Lt Laouali will be flying, the Cessna 208 Caravan intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) is a “combat caravan”, which can be used for various military operations.
These are the five of Africa’s other inaugural female pilots around the continent.
Captain Mutungi, 39 is the first female pilot in Kenya and the first woman to earn the title of captain in Africa. She is also the first pilot of the first Kenyan Dreamliner, Boeing 787. She has received several awards in a male dominated category. Her father was also a pilot with the Kenya Airways.
Patricia Mawuli is Ghana’s first female civilian pilot and the first woman in West Africa certified to build and maintain rotax engines. As a young girl, she wistfully watched the planes pass overhead, wishing one day to fly one herself.
Captain Chinyere Kalu, is the first female pilot in Nigeria. Capt. Chinyere’s decision to start a career in Aviation was spurred by her adventurous aunt, who was also the first woman from her hometown to travel overseas. She was made a member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in the 2006 National Honours. In 2011, she was appointed the Rector and Chief Executive of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which is the largest aviation training institute in Africa.
Asnath Mahapa – South Africa
Asnath Mahapa became the first black female pilot trainee in South Africa in 2003. She is the founder of the African College of Aviation (Pty) Limited. She has also flown for Red Cross and World Food Programmes in Central and West Africa. She was appointed as the beneficiary of South African Airways level two cadet pilot training programme, and the recipient of the airline’s bursary scheme set aside for previously disadvantaged communities. She was influenced to become a pilot when she heard her aunty talk about her neighbour, who was a pilot.
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