PEOPLE: VUYO WAKABA

Against huge odds, Vuyo Wakaba fulfilled his dream of becoming an SAA Captain

- GUY LITCH

VUYO WRITES:

I grew up in a middle class family in Bloemfontein.

What stands out to me about growing up was my desire to fly for South African Airways (SAA) from the age of 8. My perceptions of flying being very specialised and sophisticated drove me to doing my best in school and developing the leadership skills I felt would one day be necessary in the flight deck.

My flying career really began in 2001 while I was in secondary school as I used to attend the annual President's Trophy Air Races at New Tempe Airport outside Bloemfontein.

Reading about different aircraft types and memorising the biographical information on some of the country’s prominent pilots made it easy for me to make a positive first impression on everyone I met. My initial interactions with general aviation and military pilots led me to being introduced to three gentlemen who were instrumental in sourcing the sponsorships that get me to my CPL.

The first of these gentlemen was the late Les Daily, the owner of Westline Aviation in Bloemfontein. A pilot participating in the PTAR told Les of my desire to be a pilot. As busy as Les was, he took an hour of his time talking to me about possible career paths and encouraged me to keep believing in my dreams.

While I don't remember saying much during our first meeting, I remember him telling me several years later of how impressed he was by my passion for aviation and my commitment to my dream. What I didn't know was how that meeting impressed him enough to speak to his peers on my behalf and advocate for the need for a sponsorship that would open the doors for me to go to flight school.

At the same air race I met Lt Col. Charlie Marais who was the Officer Commanding 16 Squadron (Rooivalk squadron) at Bloemspruit. I told him of my dream to command big aeroplanes and fly around the world. Fortunately for me, Les told Charlie all about me before we even met.