Government asked to support aviation academies

Mr Philip Grill, the CEO Pangea Aviation Academy with Conrade Ssubi who won the private pilot license scholarship. Photo by Eve Muganga

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pangea Aviation Academy in Kajjansi,Wakiso District has appealed to government to offer scholarships to aviation  academies.

He says government offers scholarships to students who purse other courses yet  the love for air transport is increasing leading to more demand for pilots and other aviators workers worldwide.

“Why should we have pilots from other countries when we can train our own. Many [would be pilots] are scared of the high costs of tuition in flying schools.  Therefore, the  government should consider offering to scholarship aviation academies,” Mr Philip Grill, the chief executive officer of Pangea Aviation Academy.

He was speaking at an event where he offered a scholarship to one student to complete his private pilot license course worth Shs50 million at Pangea Aviation Academy in Kajjansi on Tuesday.

He said the aviation courses are one of the expensive courses in the country.

He said that every year they offer a schoralship to Conrade Ssubi Conrade, a first year of Kabale Uuniversity.

He said training as a pilot has been his childhood dream.

Ssubi was studying Electrical Engineering.

The school trains air traffic controllers and pilots.

Uganda Airlines, which started operations recently employs 24 pilots.

It is likely that more than 60 pilots will be employed after more planes are bought.

According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Director General, Mr Fred Bamwesigye manpower shortage is hampering air traffic control in Uganda.

He said they need more than 50 controllers.