Women in Aviation Namibia Association conducted an aviation career outreach at three schools in the Oshana Region aimed at creating awareness and inspiring a girl child to pursue careers in aviation.

The initiative seeks to promote gender inclusivity in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men, often leaving women underrepresented in various aviation professions.

The outreach programme was funded by the Namibia Airports Company, the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority, and the Airline Association of Namibia.

The support follows the recognition of a growing need to educate, inspire, and encourage girls to participate in the aviation industry while promoting greater inclusivity.

Topics discussed during the sessions included various aviation career opportunities, the objectives of the Women in Aviation Namibia Association, an overview of the aviation industry, and the academic requirements needed to pursue different aviation professions.

The Chairperson of the Women in Aviation Executive Committee, Veronicia Montsi, said women remain significantly underrepresented in several aviation fields in Namibia.

Montsi says Namibia currently only has 10 percent of female pilots and 5 percent of aircraft maintenance engineers in the country. 

Female air traffic controllers make up 35 percent of the workforce, while only three female aviation firefighters are employed across the eight airports managed by the Namibia Airports Company.

Montsi further noted that although women are making meaningful contributions to Namibia's aviation sector, there is currently no formal national platform dedicated to supporting women's career growth in aviation, encouraging youth participation, providing mentorship and networking opportunities, and advocating for gender inclusivity within the industry.

She said the establishment of the Women in Aviation Namibia Association thus seeks to address these challenges by promoting gender inclusion, encouraging increased participation of women in aviation careers, and supporting both national and international gender equality goals.