A love for engineering and airplanes
Gabriela Kamaahene is the alternate workshop manager at Fly Namibia.
03 December 2021 | Transport
PULL QUOTE: “A backup plan is always needed. It does not mean your plan will fail, it just means you are prepared for anything that comes your way.”
Wetumwene Shikage
Describing her journey at Fly Namibia, Gabriela Kamaahene says the experience has been surreal. She says the company continuously grows and she constantly keeps up with new developments.
“Fly Namibia has given me a perfect platform to build on my confidence and on my career.”
Education
Kamaahene was fortunate to get a scholarship from the ministry of works and the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority. She went to 43 Air School in Port Alfred and studied to be an aircraft engineer. She further completed 18 months of practical work and one year of theoretical classes. Thereafter, she went to Johannesburg for six weeks to test for her qualifications and to get a trade test.
Within the first two weeks of returning, Fly Namibia hired her to become part of the company.
“I have ratings on Pratt & Whitney PT6, Beechcraft 1900 and 350 and Cessna C208 Caravan,” she added. Kamaahene specifically studied to land in this field of work. She describes her job as a perfect fit for her as she loves engineering and airplanes.
Some of her daily duties include responsible planning, leading and organising the day-to-day activities for the workshop and the engineers. She oversees the apprentices as the implementing policies and procedures. And always ensures a safe and conducive working environment.
Accomplishments
At the age of 27, Kamaahene says being a female in this position is rewarding. “Besides being the previous training manager for the technical and engineering division of Fly Namibia, I am the alternate workshop manager for the Turbine Hanger. This is something that I am proud of and hopefully acts as a positive example to other girls and women who dream of doing something technical or in engineering,” she said.
She says the best thing about her job is her co-workers and her daily work environment. “With aviation the sky really is the limit and to be an integral part of that is amazing.”
The time she spends at work does not only come with experience but with meaningful lessons as well. “I have learned that a having a backup plan is always needed. It does not mean your plan will fail, it just means that you are prepared for anything that comes your way,” she said.
When Kamaahene is not caught up in work, she loves to spend time watching movies, going to dinner, exploring her surroundings and swimming with her younger brother.
Describing her journey at Fly Namibia, Gabriela Kamaahene says the experience has been surreal. She says the company continuously grows and she constantly keeps up with new developments.
“Fly Namibia has given me a perfect platform to build on my confidence and on my career.”
Education
Kamaahene was fortunate to get a scholarship from the ministry of works and the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority. She went to 43 Air School in Port Alfred and studied to be an aircraft engineer. She further completed 18 months of practical work and one year of theoretical classes. Thereafter, she went to Johannesburg for six weeks to test for her qualifications and to get a trade test.
Within the first two weeks of returning, Fly Namibia hired her to become part of the company.
“I have ratings on Pratt & Whitney PT6, Beechcraft 1900 and 350 and Cessna C208 Caravan,” she added. Kamaahene specifically studied to land in this field of work. She describes her job as a perfect fit for her as she loves engineering and airplanes.
Some of her daily duties include responsible planning, leading and organising the day-to-day activities for the workshop and the engineers. She oversees the apprentices as the implementing policies and procedures. And always ensures a safe and conducive working environment.
Accomplishments
At the age of 27, Kamaahene says being a female in this position is rewarding. “Besides being the previous training manager for the technical and engineering division of Fly Namibia, I am the alternate workshop manager for the Turbine Hanger. This is something that I am proud of and hopefully acts as a positive example to other girls and women who dream of doing something technical or in engineering,” she said.
She says the best thing about her job is her co-workers and her daily work environment. “With aviation the sky really is the limit and to be an integral part of that is amazing.”
The time she spends at work does not only come with experience but with meaningful lessons as well. “I have learned that a having a backup plan is always needed. It does not mean your plan will fail, it just means that you are prepared for anything that comes your way,” she said.
When Kamaahene is not caught up in work, she loves to spend time watching movies, going to dinner, exploring her surroundings and swimming with her younger brother.
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