South African Black Pilots
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South African Black Pilots
So what was it like to be black and a pilot during the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Did black pilots exist during that era, could you train to be a pilot in SA, if they did were they offered jobs in the airlines and if they were offered jobs, how were they treated by their fellow white colleagues?
Are their a good number of black pilots flying in SAA?
It would be interesting to get some response here after observing the current situation in SAA and the views and opinions of so many of the lads flying in SAA.
Here in Nigeria the issue of being black and a pilot has never been an issue, as far as I know Nigerian pilots have been flying for sometime now, even during the fifties we had guys sent to the UK for flight training et al and have kept that image going till today.
Thanks
B
Did black pilots exist during that era, could you train to be a pilot in SA, if they did were they offered jobs in the airlines and if they were offered jobs, how were they treated by their fellow white colleagues?
Are their a good number of black pilots flying in SAA?
It would be interesting to get some response here after observing the current situation in SAA and the views and opinions of so many of the lads flying in SAA.
Here in Nigeria the issue of being black and a pilot has never been an issue, as far as I know Nigerian pilots have been flying for sometime now, even during the fifties we had guys sent to the UK for flight training et al and have kept that image going till today.
Thanks
B
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Black Pilots?
Ok, I'll take the bait.....
Might as well ask what's it like being a white pilot in Saa in the post apartheid anti white era?
I can only hope the moderators bin this thread, it serves no constructive purpose and is obviously here only to get a rise out of some people. (It succeeded with me!)
Enough of this racism. This is a pilot forum. not a third-world newspaper front page.
Might as well ask what's it like being a white pilot in Saa in the post apartheid anti white era?
I can only hope the moderators bin this thread, it serves no constructive purpose and is obviously here only to get a rise out of some people. (It succeeded with me!)
Enough of this racism. This is a pilot forum. not a third-world newspaper front page.
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Thats not true!!!
Sir Osis of the river, yes "black Pilots" whats racist about that !!! I am a black man and can be called a black pilot whats the big deal.
Are you saying their are no black pilots in SA!!!
'Quoting you'
"I can only hope the moderators bin this thread, it serves no constructive purpose and is obviously here only to get a rise out of some people. (It succeeded with me!)"
and again
"Enough of this racism. This is a pilot forum. not a third-world newspaper front page."
And what bait
I believe that is your personal opinion Sir, and to instigate that this thread should be binned is outright wrong. If you have a positive contribution to make here then go ahead if not then you know what.
Thanks
Hotmj43 believe me there is a point and nothing wrong in asking, just have a look at the post on the SAA threads! Someone had to, and I did.
Are you saying their are no black pilots in SA!!!
'Quoting you'
"I can only hope the moderators bin this thread, it serves no constructive purpose and is obviously here only to get a rise out of some people. (It succeeded with me!)"
and again
"Enough of this racism. This is a pilot forum. not a third-world newspaper front page."
And what bait
I believe that is your personal opinion Sir, and to instigate that this thread should be binned is outright wrong. If you have a positive contribution to make here then go ahead if not then you know what.
Thanks
Hotmj43 believe me there is a point and nothing wrong in asking, just have a look at the post on the SAA threads! Someone had to, and I did.
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Balewa, I'm not old enough to know what happened in the 1950's, nor does it really concern me today. History was boring at high school and still is today!
Please just bear the following in mind thou. Since 1994, South Africa has been run by the ANC. In theory, this has given any wannbe "African" pilot 13 years to get a licence and get a job at SAA. PDI's have been given plenty of opportunities in South Africa and SAA since 1994. How they have used or misused those opportunities is up to the individual.
Currently, there are a few black pilots flying at SAA, as are there Ladies, Indians, Muslims, Jews, Vegetarians and Gays. Get my drift?! If you want an exact number, then write a letter to SAA's HR department.
Problem with your post is, what relevance does this information have to you? Why don't you rather tell us about how you got into aviation and maybe someone can learn from your experiences. Right now, your post is just pointing a big finger south!
Please just bear the following in mind thou. Since 1994, South Africa has been run by the ANC. In theory, this has given any wannbe "African" pilot 13 years to get a licence and get a job at SAA. PDI's have been given plenty of opportunities in South Africa and SAA since 1994. How they have used or misused those opportunities is up to the individual.
Currently, there are a few black pilots flying at SAA, as are there Ladies, Indians, Muslims, Jews, Vegetarians and Gays. Get my drift?! If you want an exact number, then write a letter to SAA's HR department.
Problem with your post is, what relevance does this information have to you? Why don't you rather tell us about how you got into aviation and maybe someone can learn from your experiences. Right now, your post is just pointing a big finger south!
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So what was it like to be black and a pilot during the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Did black pilots exist during that era
could you train to be a pilot in SA, if they did were they offered jobs in the airlines and if they were offered jobs, how were they treated by their fellow white colleagues?
It would be interesting to get some response here after observing the current situation in SAA and the views and opinions of so many of the lads flying in SAA.
Here in Nigeria the issue of being black and a pilot has never been an issue
Thanks
I have no doubt that you as a black pilot are tired of listening to drivel on this forum, but I can tell you that so am I.
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saywhat, what can I say
Thankyou, beers on me if ever in lagos and if u have time will fire up the barbecue so we can discuss at lenght. Sure is interesting times at SAA.
Balewa
Thankyou, beers on me if ever in lagos and if u have time will fire up the barbecue so we can discuss at lenght. Sure is interesting times at SAA.
Balewa
Last edited by BALEWA; 20th Nov 2007 at 11:23.
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BALEWA
Black Pilot? Impossible!! That is the likely response in SA prior to 1994. The 1st black commercial pilots joines SAA around 1994. Three of them are now Captains with SAA. There is around 80 (Out of approx 3000 total pilots) active black pilots in South Africa today. Most of them with SAA, the national carrier thanks to the Airline sponsored Cadet Pilot Scheme. Elsewhere in the industry you will battle to see any black faces around. With the woes SAA is going through at the moment, It is highly unlikely that the situation will improve any time soon.
The Airforce is making significant progress in training black pilots. They even have a black female pilot flying their Falcon and BBJ. I'm not sure of the numbers there.
So my brother the picture is looking very gloomy. Black South Africans have politically freedom however economically and professionally "Die Baas" is still in charge.
This is a topic most of this forum members and it's moderators feel very uncomfortable about so be warned. Perhaps they can't handle the truth, there's a ton of bricks coming your way and probably my way too.
Black Pilot? Impossible!! That is the likely response in SA prior to 1994. The 1st black commercial pilots joines SAA around 1994. Three of them are now Captains with SAA. There is around 80 (Out of approx 3000 total pilots) active black pilots in South Africa today. Most of them with SAA, the national carrier thanks to the Airline sponsored Cadet Pilot Scheme. Elsewhere in the industry you will battle to see any black faces around. With the woes SAA is going through at the moment, It is highly unlikely that the situation will improve any time soon.
The Airforce is making significant progress in training black pilots. They even have a black female pilot flying their Falcon and BBJ. I'm not sure of the numbers there.
So my brother the picture is looking very gloomy. Black South Africans have politically freedom however economically and professionally "Die Baas" is still in charge.
This is a topic most of this forum members and it's moderators feel very uncomfortable about so be warned. Perhaps they can't handle the truth, there's a ton of bricks coming your way and probably my way too.
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Most of them with SAA, the national carrier thanks to the Airline sponsored Cadet Pilot Scheme.
I hear the cadets at some of the feeders are trying to avoid going to SAA. Must be because the other airlines treat them so badly and make them feel inferior.
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Here in Nigeria the issue of being black and a pilot has never been an issue
Didn't the pilots at Arik Air had a gripe with a white pilot and made the statement here on pprune that he must look over his shoulder for "Jungle justice will take him out"?
Didn't the pilots at Arik Air had a gripe with a white pilot and made the statement here on pprune that he must look over his shoulder for "Jungle justice will take him out"?
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Race has 
to do with being a good pilot or not. Education and mental mind set are the keys here. I have the privledge to work with some truely skilled African Pilots.
The source of this can be traced through what Africans have had to go through in order to get to the left seat. When you are brought up in either a system that has dummed you down due to educational opertunities or a system where being in command and making those decisions has been suppresed for sure you will have a less than stisfactory pilot.
Now add extra factors such as personality, I have flown with and done training with pilots of various races who either excelled at being a hands on pilot ready to make those decisions and those who are not worthy of being anything more than co-pilots.
No race is superior, yes background and eduction are the telling factor but just because your white does not mean you are a better pilot you might just have had better opertunities.
As far as I'm concerned in the cockpit we are all equal, white, black, male female. You got to prove your skills. Which is why I hate actually loath any sort of "Positive discrimination" Yes you will get more of your previously disadvantaged Brethern in but you will be short changing on the skills.
To hell with race or creed. I want crews to be chosen on their skills and if you got a problem with Sex or Race, get out of the aviation Industry we don't need you, we need Aviators. People who love flying for the sake of flying not as a prestige postion or just because it's cool.
Actually take race out of everything I've seen it used and manipulated too much for me to have any respect for it. Let us have respect for the unifirm and what it stands for and not soil it as some party political mouth piece.
to do with being a good pilot or not. Education and mental mind set are the keys here. I have the privledge to work with some truely skilled African Pilots. The source of this can be traced through what Africans have had to go through in order to get to the left seat. When you are brought up in either a system that has dummed you down due to educational opertunities or a system where being in command and making those decisions has been suppresed for sure you will have a less than stisfactory pilot.
Now add extra factors such as personality, I have flown with and done training with pilots of various races who either excelled at being a hands on pilot ready to make those decisions and those who are not worthy of being anything more than co-pilots.
No race is superior, yes background and eduction are the telling factor but just because your white does not mean you are a better pilot you might just have had better opertunities.
As far as I'm concerned in the cockpit we are all equal, white, black, male female. You got to prove your skills. Which is why I hate actually loath any sort of "Positive discrimination" Yes you will get more of your previously disadvantaged Brethern in but you will be short changing on the skills.
To hell with race or creed. I want crews to be chosen on their skills and if you got a problem with Sex or Race, get out of the aviation Industry we don't need you, we need Aviators. People who love flying for the sake of flying not as a prestige postion or just because it's cool.
Actually take race out of everything I've seen it used and manipulated too much for me to have any respect for it. Let us have respect for the unifirm and what it stands for and not soil it as some party political mouth piece.
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Balewa, wake up
Balewa,
Yes, I reiterate, you are racist. Why differentiate Black pilots from white pilots?
I don't feel the need to go around proclaiming I am a white pilot, or a female pilot or a purple-spotted lesbian pilot from Outer Patergonia??
I am pilot, fullstop. I fly airplanes for a living. Maybe you do to, or are you a journalist looking for a story??
I have flown, and still do, with people of all colour, gender, race and creed.( When last did you fly with a "white pilot" in Nigeria. Not recenly I would guess). When we sign on at ops, it's a handshake, hello, nice to meet you and which leg would you like to fly? NOT, Oh My G@d, You're black!
Wake up or shut up.
Yes, I reiterate, you are racist. Why differentiate Black pilots from white pilots?
I don't feel the need to go around proclaiming I am a white pilot, or a female pilot or a purple-spotted lesbian pilot from Outer Patergonia??
I am pilot, fullstop. I fly airplanes for a living. Maybe you do to, or are you a journalist looking for a story??
I have flown, and still do, with people of all colour, gender, race and creed.( When last did you fly with a "white pilot" in Nigeria. Not recenly I would guess). When we sign on at ops, it's a handshake, hello, nice to meet you and which leg would you like to fly? NOT, Oh My G@d, You're black!
Wake up or shut up.
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Are you threatening me!
No Sir not on this flightdeck, none of that on this side of the motherland, you Sir you wake up or shut up, Captain.
Its folks like you who make it quite clear that SAA is still very much a Black and White airline!
"from a PM"
'but please dont quote me directly,but it is good that some of this gets out,on the African Forum....and i guess around the world others peep in.But this is known,during the dark days of Apt the rest of the world was trading with SA, the reality!!!'
"from Afriviation"
'This is a topic most of this forum members and it's moderators feel very uncomfortable about so be warned. Perhaps they can't handle the truth, there's a ton of bricks coming your way and probably my way too. '
What a shame!
Its folks like you who make it quite clear that SAA is still very much a Black and White airline!
"from a PM"
'but please dont quote me directly,but it is good that some of this gets out,on the African Forum....and i guess around the world others peep in.But this is known,during the dark days of Apt the rest of the world was trading with SA, the reality!!!'
"from Afriviation"
'This is a topic most of this forum members and it's moderators feel very uncomfortable about so be warned. Perhaps they can't handle the truth, there's a ton of bricks coming your way and probably my way too. '
What a shame!
Last edited by BALEWA; 21st Nov 2007 at 01:18.
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I said it....pointless!!!!
Balewa, what was the point of starting this thread? Just to start unnecessary "racial" arguments
. Nothing more educative to write about??? Are you trying to tell us that SA is still racist and Nigeria isn't....and then what??? We continue arguing endlessly about it.
I thought this kind of threads are not allowed here....It can never, and will never bring educative or good results. We are all here to learn from each other's experiences and to broaden our general knowledge and understanding from the postings of the others with their different backgrounds and cultures, not to start provocative arguments that lead nowhere.
Where are the Moderators and their axes??? The direction this thread is heading to isn't too good.
Balewa, what was the point of starting this thread? Just to start unnecessary "racial" arguments
. Nothing more educative to write about??? Are you trying to tell us that SA is still racist and Nigeria isn't....and then what??? We continue arguing endlessly about it. I thought this kind of threads are not allowed here....It can never, and will never bring educative or good results. We are all here to learn from each other's experiences and to broaden our general knowledge and understanding from the postings of the others with their different backgrounds and cultures, not to start provocative arguments that lead nowhere.
Where are the Moderators and their axes??? The direction this thread is heading to isn't too good.
