Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) joined the rest of the world on International Women’s Day to celebrate the female Air Navigation experts that have over the years proved their professionalism and selflessness in their respective fields of expertise. And as the norm is on International Women’s Day to let women take charge, the Entebbe International Airport’s Air Control Tower, Approach Radar and Area Control Centre were all manned by an all-female technical, engineering and aeronautical information management team.
In his remarks, CAA Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Fred Bamwesigye noted that CAA chose the Air Navigation Centre to celebrate the International Women’s Day and show case how women are progressing in the field of Aviation.
“We have just chosen the Air Traffic Control to celebrate the International Women’s Day but there are many areas in our Aviation Industry where women are playing very crucial roles such as Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the Public Affairs Department. Historically, the Aviation Industry has registered fewer women and their entry dates only as far back as the World War II, when they entered the ranks as air traffic controllers and aircraft communicators to replace men who joined the war effort. The ratio of female to male Aviation experts is about 33:67 and we as CAA have plans to have more women join the technical ranks”, said Bamwesigye.
Mr. Bamwesigye added;
The female Air Navigation experts in the various fields that CAA Uganda is celebrating on International Women’s Day are the unsung behind-the-scene heroes that have over the years done everything in their means to ensure that passengers and cargo are safely and efficiently delivered to their destinations. This year’s International Women’s Day theme: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” is in tandem with the important role that women play in different fields of air Navigation and Civil Aviation generally in ensuring safety and efficiency to flights in the air and on ground. As CAA, we commit ourselves to have many women in our ranks as practically possible without endangering other objectives of ensuring safety.
Mr. Bamwesigye also noted that CAA is not disappointed with the team of women that are serving in Air Navigation and stressed that they have become experts on international scenes and that they are part of CAA’s representatives in International bodies such as IFATCA that brings all Air traffic controllers in the world together.
Zalwango Prossie who has worked in the Air Traffic Department for 21 years Had This To Say;
I’ve been working with CAA for the last 21 years in the department of Air Traffic Management and our job mainly entails controlling of Aircrafts both on the ground and in the air and making sure that they are safe and the flow is smooth. I joined after CAA had advertised and I had no background in Aviation. All CAA looked out for was our performance particularly in the science subjects and then we were taken for training. I’m proud of job as an Air Traffic controller regardless of the challenges.
Eva Luyiga who has worked as an Air Traffic Management Officer for three years had this to say;
An Air Traffic Management officer is that person that is never known. People only know the captain, cabin crew but an Air Traffic Management Officer is someone who gives instructions to pilots and tells them which direction to take, when to take off and when to land. The main responsibility of an Air Traffic Management officer is to prevent collisions between Aircrafts, between vehicles and Aircrafts on the ground because we are in contact with everyone in the premises of the Airport.
I find the job interesting because we speak to many people and get to hear many voices. It’s got it’s challenges because we have to figure out things in a very short time and we have to be alert all the time. I’ve spent three years on the job and 20 years down the road, I still want to be on the job because I’m in charge and in addition, Pilots will not do anything unless we have authorized them to do so.
