BBC World Service/Joseph Banda/Edmund Farmer/Zambia

[fernytickles]

Just listened to a BBC World Service story about a young man, Joseph Banda, from the outskirts of Lusaka in Zambia. The Beeb had done a story on him in September, where he described his home town, the drunks, drugs, etc etc, and also talked about wanting to become a pilot.

Tonight's program was a follow up, where listeners had stepped forward offering to help him, and one Edmund Farmer took him up for a flying lesson...:ok: Great to hear such a heartwarming story, big thumbs up to Mr Farmer.

If anyone knows him, or knows Joseph Banda, I have emailed the BBC World Service, asking them to contact Joseph to pass on info on EAA, and the Young Eagles program.

[VarigMD11]

Hi there

I know Edmund quite well, he is the owner of Skytrails which operates out of Kasanka north of Mfuwe. Nice guy and a good little operation he is running. Well done on Edmund for helping out this pilot. We need more local guys to fly.

Cheers

VMD

[Carrier]

Quote: ".........took him up for a flying lesson....."

Was it for a lesson or was Joseph given a joy ride? If he was taken up for flight instruction then presumably the operation would have to be licensed as such with Zambia's Department of Civil Aviation and the pilot would need an instructor's rating from the DCA. Apparently Zambia follows the British system that permits an instructor's rating to be given to the holder of a PPL, whereas in the major aviation countries all instructors have to first obtain a CPL.
According to contacts in Zambia the only civil ab initio flight training operations are or were Zamfari, ZASTI, and the Nchanga Flying Club. The operational status of all three is in some doubt. The owner of Staravia has or had an instructor rating but that seems to be for their own use rather than for running a public flight school. The only other place to learn to fly in Zambia is with the Zambian Air Force at Livingstone.
It would be great for Zambia if Mr. Farmer is running a reliable flight training operation, although it is difficult to see how one could succeed outside of the major population centres.
If it was for just a joy ride then this is yet another case of BBC inaccurate reporting. Perhaps someone there would clarify. That's probably what it was and Mr. Farmer is to be congratulated. The problem now becomes one of how to further Joseph's career training. There are two big issues: where to do the training and how to finance it. These issues are faced by any Zambian who wants to become a career civil aviation pilot. The same applies to aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, etc.

[lpokijuhyt]

Joseph Banda: Isn't that the kid Madonna adopted a few years ago?