SAWIA her S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N W O M E N I N AV I AT I O N & A E R O S PA C E I N D U S T RY
I N F O R M . C O N N E C T . M O T I VAT E . I N S P I R E
been to save lives as a Zanele Shabangu is arch-and-rescue missions ites Mbulelo Baloyi.
AVIATRIX PROFILES 9 AUGUST 2012
ave prospects for growth, Shabangu he environment is proving challengTHE SOUTH AFRICAN vance their careers without having
AIR FORCE
LIEUTENANT ZANELE SHABANGU
missions as well as other day-to-day duties. Some of these duties include flying members of the Executive, including the President and Deputy President. Among the three female pilots who operate the Oryx utility medium-transport helicopter is 26-year-old Lieutenant Laura Ilunga, originally from Waterkloof in Pretoria.
From Left to Right Lt. Laura IIunga, Lt. Zanele Shabangu , Lt. Olwetu Soga.
haul comm
LIEUTENANT ZANELE SHABANGU SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE ORYX CO-PILOT
P
Zanele was born and grew up in Temba township in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. She is an Oryx helicopter co-pilot.
LIVING THE DREAM Being an Air Force pilot was a second choice for Lieutenant Zanele Shabangu. While in high school, she enquired at South African Airways about its pilot training programme. “It was out of sheer interest and I went there on my own to get information on how one went about to become a commercial pilot. I did not even know about the Air Force then,” says the 26-year-old who grew up in Temba township in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. On completion of her high-school education, Shabangu joined the Department of Defence’s Youth Foundation Programme to pursue a career in medicine within the South African Military Health Service arm of the Defence Force. “There were a lot of us and they told some of us to go for our second choice and that is when I went for piloting.” Shabangu says she initially found the Air Force environment tough, particularly as a woman. She said there was tremendous pressure on her as a woman to work harder as there was anticipation that she would wither away but she persevered. She sees herself being a flight commander at senior level. “One thing that I would like to accomplish while I am still in the Air Force is to add to the number of female commanders of helicopter pilots. Presently, there is one female commander based in Pretoria and a colleague of ours here at the base is undergoing training to become a commander.” During a helicopter flight, there is a pilot, co-pilot and a flight engineer. Shabangu says a flight commander is in charge of the entire flight in terms of decisions that are being made. The final decision during the flight, she adds, rests with the commander. “Usually a commander would be someone who has more experience among the three crew members. You could be at the same rank but because of experience in terms of helicopter flying, that pilot would be the automatic choice of being a commander.” While the Air Force does have prospects for growth, Shabangu believes that the nature of the environment is proving challenging for female pilots to advance their careers without having to make sacrifices. “Here, I am talking about things like starting a family. When I think about having a baby, I have to think about my career as well. I have to weigh the option of having a baby and my career because I have to go away for a few months. By the time I come back from maternity leave, I would be behind in terms of flying hours required of pilots.” “To survive one has to be tough. Sometimes, you inadvertently take that toughness home and your partner has to remind you to calm down. You must have a very understanding partner,” remarks Shabangu. However, Shabangu admits that by virtue of being in the armed forces she knows that it all comes with the territory. SOURCE: Public Sector magazine August 2011.pdf
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WOMEN IN AVIATION
Living her dream B
Her first love has always been to save lives as a medical doctor but now Zanele Shabangu is doing just that during search-and-rescue missions in an Oryx helicopter, writes Mbulelo Baloyi.
eing an Air Force pilot was a second choice for Lieutenant Zanele Shabangu. While in high school, she enquired at South African Airways about its pilot
training programme. “It was out of sheer interest and I went there on my own to get information on how one went about to become a commercial pilot. I did not even know about the Air Force then,” says the 26-year-old who grew up in Temba township in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. On completion of her high-school education, Shabangu joined the Department of Defence’s Youth Foundation Programme to pursue a career in medicine within the South African Military Health Service arm of the Defence Force. “There were a lot of us and they told some of us to go for our second choice and that is when I went for piloting.” Shabangu says she initially found the Air Force environment tough, particularly as a woman. She said there was tremendous pressure on her as a woman to work harder as there was anticipation that she would wither away but she persevered. She sees herself being a flight commander at senior level. “One thing that I would like to accomplish while I am still in the Air Force is to add to the number of female commanders of helicopter pilots. Presently, there is one female commander based in Pretoria and a colleague of ours here at the base is undergoing training to become a commander.” During a helicopter flight, there is a pilot, co-pilot and a flight engineer. Shabangu says a flight commander is in charge of the entire flight in terms of decisions that are being made. The final decision during the flight, she adds, rests with the commander. “Usually a commander would be someone who has more experience among the three crew members. You could be at the same rank but because of experience in terms of helicopter flying, that pilot would be the automatic choice of being a commander.”
Public Sector Manager • August 2011
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While the Air Force does have prospects for growth, Shabangu believes that the nature of the environment is proving challenging for female pilots to advance their careers without having to make sacrifices. “Here, I am talking about things like starting a family. When I think about having a baby, I have to think about my career as well. I have to weigh the option of having a baby and my career because I have to go away for a few months. By the time I come back from maternity leave, I would be behind in terms of flying hours required of pilots.” “To survive one has to be tough. Sometimes, you inadvertently take that toughness home and your partner has to remind you to calm down. You must have a very understanding partner,” remarks Shabangu. However, Shabangu Lt. Zanele Shabangu admits that by virtue of being in the armed forces she knows that it all comes with the territory.
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SANDF (SAAF) FIRE TRAINING SCHOOL MISSION The SANDF Fire Training School is a provider of professional, cost effective Fire Fighting and Rescue training in the SANDF. Our professionalism is indispensable for the optimal application of the Fire services and other personnel, on the various units in the SANDF, to protect the assets of the SANDF and it’s clients.
VISION To render the best fundamental, professional and recognized formal/ functional Fire and Emergency Service training in Africa. HISTORY In order to understand the current state of affairs at the SANDF Fire Training School, it is essential to go back in its history first. Until 1978, all training for SAAF Firemen took place at SLT (presently 68 Air School) where after they wrote a trade test, which served as a functional promotion requirement up to the rank of WO1. All training afterwards was the responsibility of the member’s home unit. Members could also further their education at SAFSI (South African Fire Services Institute) or at IFE (Institute of Fire Engineers). The required facilities to accommodate the large amount of NSM (National Servicemen), which was sent to the fire service twice a year, created huge headaches. At the beginning of 1979, training was centralized and upgraded according to the technology and came in line with South African and International fire services. Fire training was moved to AFS Voortrekkerhoogte where two Phase 1 courses where presented at Wallmansthall, approximately 65 km from Pretoria with about 100 NSM and permanent force members as its target group. LEFT: SAAF Oryx ferrying Fire Teams up and down Mountain, Hermanus in back ground PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREWE BROOKS SOURCE: http://www.avcollect.com/ hermanus/fire/index.html
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RIGHT: SAAF Oryx PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREWE BROOKS SOURCE: http://www.avcollect.com/hermanus/fire/index.html
It was later decided to present improved courses (Phase 2) for permanent force members. These courses, Phase 1 & 2, were presented according to the SAFSI Fireman and senior certificate curriculum. Numerous members passed these courses. A Phase 3 courses was presented in 1983/1984 that prepared the more senior members for their SAFSI Senior firemen and Graduate diploma examinations. ORIGIN OF THE FIRE TRAINING SCHOOL Because of the aforementioned problems it was decided to investigate the possibility for the transfer of training from AFS VTH to a unit with adequate facilities for the development of fire training. Central Flying School Dunnotar was identified as such a unit and training was transferred to CSF DNTR in 1986 under the name SAAF Fire Training School. With the closure of CFS DNTR in 1991, the Fire Training School and its personnel were moved to the AF Gymnasium were it is currently situated. In October 1995 the SAAF Log council officially changed the SAAF Fire Training School’s name to the SANDF Fire Training School. The council also decided to launch an investigation into the possibility of accreditation at SAESI (South African Emergency Services Institute) for the national acknowledgement of the SANDF Fire Training School courses. The workgroup’s task was completed and the SANDF Fire Training School was accredited in July 1998. SOURCE: http://www.af.mil.za/bases/gymnasium/fire.htm
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