Black pilots have warned it will take centuries before there is real transformation in the aviation sector, despite a significant number of them now manning commercial aircraft.
Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has previously raised concerns about the lack of transformation in aviation, calling for more female pilots and aeronautical engineers.
According to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa), 88% of pilots are males.
Among the men, 83% are white across pilot classes including balloon, glider, private and commercial (fixed wing and helicopter). Africans comprise 12%, with both coloureds and Indians about 3%.
Among women, Africans make up 44% of pilots, while whites are at 49%, coloureds at 3% and Indians at 4%.
A pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity said the mainstream aviation sector had been stagnant, underscoring inadequate investment for transformation.
“As things stand, we are stagnant and will not show any progress for centuries. The notion that aviation is expensive should be wiped out, as we should ask ourselves why the minority numbers are high even though flying is said to be expensive,” he said.
He said that despite intervention programmes by the government to expedite transformation, little had been achieved.
As things stand, we are stagnant and will not show any progress for centuries. The notion that aviation is expensive should be wiped out, as we should ask ourselves why the minority numbers are high even though flying is said to be expensive
— An African pilot who spoke anonymously
Another black pilot, who is a beneficiary of the SAA cadet programme and spoke anonymously, said the numbers are skewed mostly because of the cost of attaining a commercial pilot's licence (CPL).
“The disparity is further exacerbated by how very difficult it is to find work once you have that licence, unless you catch a lucky break, go into instruction, or are accepted into a programme like cadet programmes previously offered by some airlines, because most jobs have some or other minimum experience requirement. Many women and pilots of colour hold flying licences, but many are unable to break into the industry and land their first flying jobs.”
He said students test for a CPL after logging 200 flying hours, but most entry level jobs won't consider candidates with less than 800 hours.
“There are very few opportunities for 200-hour pilots, black or white, and this unfortunately is where we lose many pilots of colour, because by virtue of most having attained their licences via scholarship, they do not have the means to survive a long drawn-out search to land that pivotal first flying job. The bridge from 200 to 800 hours is simply a bridge too far to cross for many”.
SAA CEO John Lamola said the airline leads transformation of the aviation industry, with 21 of 41 captains being white. Of 75 first officers, 26 are white.
“SAA’s employment equity programme, especially regarding the pilots, is undergirded by a non-negotiable commitment to safety and efficiency of SAA’s operations. Recruitment and promotions into ranks of the pilot community are strictly based on regulated skills requirements, and not necessarily in pursuit of demographic quotas.”
He said that when SAA halted operations in 2020, the profile of its pilots was predominantly white and male. However, since the lockdown, the airline had brought in new entrants from previously disadvantaged groups.
“The lack of diversity in this profile was often due to a lack of opportunity and funds for aspiring black and female pilots.”
Margie Viljoen, president of the Aviation Professionals' Association South Africa, said the aviation industry adhered to complex regulations designed to ensure passenger safety, which could also inadvertently slow down innovation and transformation.
“These regulations have been written in the blood of those lives lost because of failures in the safety chain.”
There are very few opportunities for 200-hour pilots, black or white, and this unfortunately is where we lose many pilots of colour, because by virtue of most having attained their licences via scholarship, they do not have the means to survive a long drawn-out search to land that pivotal first flying job
— A black pilot, who wished to remain aninymous
She said that pre-Covid there was a forecast of a global pilot shortage. “The pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 eased this shortage somewhat due to the downturn in air travel, but aviation has made a faster than expected recovery, which has possibly exacerbated the pilot shortage, as many pilots left the industry during Covid.”
Viljoen said training a pilot wasn't as straightforward as simply administering exams and giving a few flying lessons.
Airline captains require an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). To qualify, candidates need to pass a class I medical evaluation, have completed the Private Pilot Licence qualification, the Night Rating, the Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating, have completed the theoretical exams and flight tests for the ATPL, and have amassed 1,500 flying hours.
“The approximate cost of this ranges between R750,000 and R900,000, excluding living expenses such as rent, food and transport. It can take at least three years to obtain this qualification. Unfortunately, once you have the ATPL you are not guaranteed a job as an airline captain. You may get employed by an airline as a co-pilot/first officer and would be expected to gain experience before being offered the opportunity to upgrade to captain. This all depends on each airline’s hiring/promotion policy.”
Viljoen said there did appear to be a lack of transformation in aviation companies, especially in the highly skilled positions such as pilots.
“Concerns about slow transformation may be valid, but this is certainly not from a lack of willingness on the part of the industry. One needs to look further down the supply chain to ensure that our educational system is providing an adequate supply of educated people to enter the aviation world. These issues have been and still are being addressed by industry stakeholders to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for aspiring pilots regardless of colour.”
Poppy Khoza, director at Sacaa, said: “This year will be 30 years since a democratic South Africa was birthed, and I feel that equality and transformation should also be reflected within this sector.”
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