BY Obakeng Maje

Lack of complete and reliable information results in learners from historically disadvantaged communities overlooking the possibility of a career in aviation, North West Premier Thandi Modise said over the weekend.

In her keynote speech delivered at the International Civil Aviation Day (ICAD) annual event held under the theme: “Aviation: Your reliable Connection to the World” at the Mahikeng Airport on Saturday, Premier Modise expressed appreciation that 3 120 learners and 200 educators from across the province were exposed to different careers available in aviation during the two days preceding the event.

Learners who participated in the Joint Aviation Awareness Programme (JAAP) were empowered by different by different aviation experts through presentations about various careers in the industry and also participated in flips courtesy of the South African Air Force and South African Police Service Air Wing. They were also granted an opportunity to build model aircrafts which they took home. 

Although acknowledging that for the first time in the history of ICAD, learners living with disabilities were involved in the JAAP, Modise said that there is a need to put more effort to improve the limited participation of previously disadvantaged individuals in the aviation industry.

“Aviation is a lucrative business that provides some 56, 6 million jobs worldwide and 2.2 trillion dollars of the global domestic product,

The industry should benefit everybody including those of our people from rural communities. Improving teaching in mathematics and science should start at Early Childhood Development Centre to prepare our young people to opt for careers in aviation for them to claim and dominate their skies,” The Premier emphasised.

She highlighted that aviation has its own unique virtue of bringing people closer together, promotes economic growth, facilitate trade and also plays a significant role in the wider economic development of society, within Africa and other continents.

“In South Africa, the industry has played an extremely essential role in the achievement of our sustainable growth, adding to the expansion of domestic and international air services and has become a prerequisite for the development and growth in our various sectors such as business, tourism and trade facilitation,” she added.

Acting Director of Civil Aviation at South African Civil Aviation Authority, Poppy Khoza in appreciating partners that participated in the programme said that South Africa’s scheduled flights have a proud record of many safe landings and that it is one of the authority’s most important goal to assist in keeping alive this reputation of reliable aviation transport.

The objective of the ICAD annual celebration is to establish and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States. The celebrations rotate among the provinces.

Meanwhile, Modise outlined plans by the provincial government to pursue the license of Mahikeng Airport as regional goods and passenger airport that should serve as a gateway into Southern African Development Community and Africa.

In supporting the Premier, MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha announced that his department will be spending R50 million to revamp the airport to bring it to the desired state of functionality.