TCAA launches initiative to boost women’s participation in aviation

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has intensified efforts to empower women by increasing their participation in various professional roles within the aviation sector, particularly as pilots and engineers.

The initiative is being spearheaded through the authority’s Women in Aviation platform, which aims to address the gender disparity in a sector where women are still underrepresented compared to men.

Speaking at the launch of the Women in Aviation – Tanzania Chapter Leaders’ Conference and Logo Competition, TCAA’s Director of Legal Services and founder of Women in Aviation, Ms Maria Memba, stressed the need for focused efforts to support women in seizing opportunities within the aviation industry.

“From our recent assessment, it’s clear that the number of women in the aviation sector is far lower than that of men.

We are taking deliberate steps to change that by creating opportunities and increasing the representation of women in the field,” said Ms Memba.

She revealed that TCAA’s statistics from the past three months show a stark gender gap in several key roles: women constitute only 23 per cent of pilots, 35 per cent of aircraft engineers and 45 per cent of air traffic controllers.

However, women make up 73 per cent of flight attendants, which highlights the need to balance representation in more technical and leadership positions.

“This disparity emphasises why we need to encourage more women to pursue careers as pilots, engineers and in other technical areas within aviation, rather than concentrating predominantly in cabin crew roles,” added Ms Memba.

The Women in Aviation platform, launched in 2022 by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, has outlined key goals for its upcoming meeting scheduled for October 31.

ALSO READ: TZ AVIATION SECTOR GROWTH: Samia sees brighter prospects

The platform aims to empower women through specialised training programmes to enhance their skills in various aviation professions, foster collaboration and leadership among women working in the sector and inspire young girls to pursue careers in aviation and increasing their involvement in the industry at an early stage.

The October meeting is expected to attract approximately 200 women from different sectors of the aviation industry across Tanzania.

By implementing these initiatives, TCAA hopes to break down barriers, ensure equal opportunities for women and inspire the next generation of female aviation professionals.