Airspace News Kenya: Kenyan pilot in the skies of Okavango Delta

Kenyan pilot in the skies of Okavango Delta

Flying is the best thing to ever happen in my life. You see the earth with the magnificence that God created it. The sceneries from above are impeccable. And I’ll never stop enjoying the view. My name is Sidney Maloba Maloba, I am a Kenyan who flies in Botswana. I started flying in 2010 after graduating from Maseno School. I enrolled at CMC flight school where I received my flying license.

I later did my instructor’s course and was fortunate to have been hired as a flight instructor at a flying school at Wilson Airport. I taught ground school and flight instruction till December of 2016. It was then that I applied and got a job in Botswana as a flight instructor.

I came to Botswana in 2017, joining at the International Aviation Solutions (IAS) Aviation Academy. At IAS I instructed for a year and was later promoted to Chief Flight Instructor in 2018. I served this role till August of 2019. At this time I wanted a change of careers. However, I didn’t think my time in Botswana was done. I looked around at the safari air charter operations in the world famous Okavango Delta and applied for a job at Mack Air.

I came to Botswana in 2017; joining at the International Aviation Solutions (Aviation Academy. At IAS I instructed for a year and was later promoted to Chief Flight Instructor in 2018. I served this role till August of 2019. At this time, I wanted a change of careers. However, I didn’t think my time in Botswana was done. I looked around at the safari air charter operations in the world famous Okavango Delta and applied for a job at Mack Air.

Fortunately for me they called me in for an interview and after a week of being around their operations they offered me a position as a line pilot on the Cessna Grand Caravan EX. This was exciting for me because, at the time, Mack Air had just received a total of 17 brand new EX’s.

The company flew me to South Africa where I did my type rating course at SimuFlight. In November of 2019 I had received my C208 type rating. At Mack Air all new Caravan pilots have to fly 50 hours offline training before going online. Remember Mack Air operates the Cessna 208 as single crew. This is a lot of work. Not only are you the pilot but you also serve as the load master, cabin crew flight planner and any other role that might be required of you for the safe conduction of the flight.

I got online on the 31st of January 2020. I have been commanding the C208 EX since then and have been enjoying the experience. Flying to remote places and spending time in some of the most luxurious and exclusive luxury camps in Africa. For now, this is my life. Living the dream as a bush pilot in The Okavango Delta!

Originally posted on page 3 of Airspace News Kenya, 4th Issue