Women account for just seven per cent of pilots in Angola's civil aviation sector, which employs around 8,000 people in total, according to Amélia Kuvíngua, chair of the board of the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC).
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a panel discussion titled 'Women in Transport and Logistics: Leadership, Inclusion and the Future' — held as part of the second edition of the Angola Hub Transport and Logistics Summit in Luanda, running from 28 to 30 of this month — Kuvíngua said the figure underscores the urgent need to scale up training and create conditions for greater female participation across the transport and logistics sector.
Kuvíngua also advocated for early exposure of children to the range of professions within the sector, arguing that broadening awareness of opportunities in engineering, mechanics and other technical specialisations from a young age is critical to building a more diverse talent pipeline.
She identified the roll-out of structured training, mentorship and professional development programmes as essential tools for facilitating women's entry into the sector and supporting their career advancement once there.
Kuvíngua noted that the rapid expansion of air connectivity between countries is intensifying demand for qualified professionals, and that achieving the diversity of talent required to meet the sector's evolving needs remains a key challenge.
Turning to ANAC's financial position, the authority's chair stated that the institution's sustainability is intrinsically linked to the performance of its professionals and to the financial health of the wider ecosystem of entities operating within the sector, including national carrier TAAG and air navigation service provider ENNA, among others.
She argued that the financial performance of sector institutions should reflect the commitment and competence of the professionals working throughout the value chain, framing workforce quality as a direct driver of institutional viability.
The second edition of the Angola Hub Transport and Logistics Summit has brought together in Luanda representatives of African governments, financial institutions, multilateral organisations, companies, investors and national and international operators.
Through Wednesday, participants are debating themes covering transport, logistics, connectivity and economic integration across the region.
Source: ANGOP / Original article: https://www.angop.ao/noticias/economia/aviacao-civil-conta-com-7-da-forca-de-trabalho-feminina-na-pilotagem/
