Africa’s Air Transport Leaders Speak On Trained Professionals’ Exit To Other Markets
Though there is no single centralized database tracking the exact number of aviation professionals leaving Africa for other continents, industry leaders have been speaking to AVIATION MONITOR, acknowledging that there is a significant brain drain as trained pilots and technicians move to markets in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Some are already offering possible solutions to the challenge.
ASKY’s Commercial Director, Mr. Date D. Tevi-Benissan says “talent retention is a growing challenge across Africa, compounded by a global shortage of skilled personnel. Once engineers and pilots gain international accreditation, they are highly attractive to airlines in Europe and the Middle East. To counter this, ASKY is creating an environment where professionals can build long-term careers. This means providing clear career progression pathways, investing in continuous professional development, and creating a supportive workplace culture.”
He said the airline’s new investments in a B737 MAX pilot simulator and a joint-venture MRO center are key to creating “an environment where talented aviation professionals can build long-term careers and contribute to the growth of African aviation without needing to seek opportunities elsewhere.”
The Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo said “Nigeria has experienced the migration of aviation professionals, including pilots, engineers, CAA inspectors, and other technical specialists, largely because aviation skills are globally competitive and highly sought after. The NCAA itself has faced challenges in retaining some highly trained professionals. To address this, we have improved staff welfare, strengthened career development opportunities, and expanded training programmes. Beyond the Authority, we encourage industry stakeholders to invest more in training, succession planning, and creating attractive career opportunities that will encourage professionals to remain within Nigeria and Africa.”
The Director General, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fansu Bojang said the challenge “is something the whole industry is grappling with really but I think it is more severe in Africa because of our generally low packages compared to the rest of the international community. In Gambia, we also recognize that because we have lost some of our trained pilots from Flight Safety Department to the industry, what we have decided as an institution and as a country to do is that we have created a special professional allowance for the staff in the Flight Safety; not only in Flight Safety, Air Traffic Control also. The whole technical staff have been granted allowance to a level that their salary is more than that of the Directors General or comparable. Though that is still below what the industry is, but it is an incentive for them to appreciate that they are valued and are significant to the state. Compared to what their colleagues are getting, they know that they have been put on a higher pedestal. Because of that, I think we are able to hold on to them for now. That is not the end. We are making further proposals to see how the wage package can be reviewed to be guaranteed that we hold them together. There is no point spending so much. It is so expensive to train one pilot. At the end of the day, you lose them. So, we will basically be subsidizing the industry.”
However, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, Ato Girma Wake believes the trend will continue “because first, even if you offer them the same type of salary; let me take as an example, the Gulf carriers. They are the ones taking bulk of African professionals. In our continent, for the senior job like that, there is 30% to 35% tax. Even if you pay the same salary that they pay in the Gulf, there is no tax there. So, they are automatically 35% more than what they would get at home. So, for me, as long as they serve you for sometime, 15 years, 20 years, 30 years; I believe you should try to keep them but if they go, you should have other people ready to take their place. Get younger people to move in their place. It is a way of life. You cannot change it but find a way of really replacing them fast. Prepare always, some people, who are trained in that area to be ready to take over. Don’t count on stopping them because you cannot stop them. Just train more people. We have the same thing. We had lots of pilots in the gulf, in America, in Singapore, flying for carriers but still produced more pilots. The more you produce, the better for you because the young ones wants to move up for you; and Africa needs it anyway. Don’t complain about them. Try to keep them but when they go, get a replacement. Have your people ready.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways Limited, Capt. Edward Boyo opines that instead of moving from airline to airline just because of monetary packages, professionals should stay behind to develop their own terrain, their own airlines and continent.AM
(PHOTO SOURCE: TAAG Angola media)
