Beyond the Cockpit

CAA Opens Aviation Opportunities to Young Zambians as Schools Seek Practical Exposure in Growing Industry

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 10 July 2026 — The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has encouraged young Zambians to consider careers in aviation, saying the industry will require millions of skilled professionals globally in the coming years.

The call was made when Mwamise Schools visited the CAA on an educational tour aimed at exposing learners to the aviation sector and helping them understand career opportunities beyond the cockpit.

Speaking during the visit, CAA Public Relations Manager Sepiso Zimba, who represented Director General Captain Derrick Luembe, said the future of aviation depends not only on modern aircraft and emerging technologies but also on developing a skilled workforce capable of keeping the skies safe.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you today as we share knowledge about the exciting world of aviation and the important role played by the Civil Aviation Authority as the national regulatory body responsible for ensuring that civil aviation in our country is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable,” Zimba said.

He explained that the CAA develops and enforces aviation regulations, certifies airports, airlines, training organisations, aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation personnel and aircraft operations while working with stakeholders to ensure Zambia complies with international aviation standards.

Zimba said the global aviation industry was facing one of its biggest workforce challenges, with demand for skilled personnel increasing as experienced professionals approach retirement.

According to the Boeing 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook, the world will require about 2.4 million new aviation professionals by 2044, including 660,000 pilots, 710,000 aircraft maintenance technicians and one million cabin crew members to meet growing demand and replace an ageing workforce.

He said passenger traffic was expected to grow by about 3.8 percent annually over the next two decades, creating opportunities for countries that invest in developing the next generation of aviation professionals.

“This growth will only be sustainable if countries invest today in developing the next generation of aviation professionals,” Zimba said.

He said Zambia was committed to supporting the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals initiative, which seeks to encourage young people to pursue careers in aviation.

Zimba said the CAA had already started investing in future aviation capacity by sending four young employees to a global conference held in Durban last year.

He said aviation career awareness should begin at an early stage because young people need exposure before they enter higher education.

“We believe the best time to inspire a future pilot or engineer is not at university, but in primary or secondary school. Today’s classroom could produce tomorrow’s Director General, airline captain, aircraft engineer or aviation innovator,” Zimba said.

He said aviation offered opportunities beyond flying aircraft and engineering, encouraging learners to consider careers such as air traffic control, aviation inspection, drone operations, meteorology, cybersecurity, environmental management, medicine, law, journalism, procurement and finance.

“Aviation is not just about pilots and engineers. Every time we conduct these awareness campaigns, we make it clear to young learners that there are many professions represented in this industry,” he said.

Zimba added that aviation careers were important in supporting economic growth through tourism, trade, connectivity and national development.

Meanwhile, he highlighted the need for greater participation of women in aviation, noting that women remain underrepresented in technical aviation professions globally.

“Women account for only about five percent of pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance technicians,” Zimba said.

He said the CAA was supporting efforts to promote gender equity in the sector, including sending female staff to attend the ICAO Gender Summit in Luanda, Angola, from July 21 to 23, 2026.

Drone Growth Requires Responsible Regulation

Zimba also highlighted the increasing use of drones in Zambia, saying the technology was creating opportunities in areas such as photography, agriculture, infrastructure inspections and emergency response.

He, however, stressed the need for safe and responsible drone operations to protect public safety and Zambia’s airspace.

“While drones offer tremendous opportunities, they must be operated safely and responsibly. Without proper regulation, drones can interfere with aircraft, compromise public safety, affect privacy and create security risks,” Zimba said.

He said the CAA regulates drone operations by establishing requirements for safe registration, operation and use to ensure the benefits of the technology are realised while protecting lives and the country’s airspace.

Zimba added that the Authority was reviewing drone regulations to ensure they remain flexible, incorporate stakeholder feedback and align with new ICAO guidelines.

He encouraged learners to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, saying these areas would be critical in shaping the future of aviation.

“The sky is not the limit. It is your workplace of the future. Dream big, work hard, embrace science and technology, and one day you could be helping to connect Zambia to the world,” he said.

He urged parents, teachers and the media to partner with the CAA in promoting aviation education and exposing more young people to opportunities in the sector.

“Every pilot, engineer, air traffic controller and aviation leader was once a child with a dream, just like you. Your future begins with curiosity, dedication and the willingness to learn,” Zimba said.

Mwamise Schools Welcomes Aviation Exposure

Mwamise Schools Head Manager Obrigor Kachinka thanked the Civil Aviation Authority for welcoming learners and providing them with an opportunity to gain practical knowledge about the aviation industry.

Kachinka said the educational tour was important because it helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life industrial applications.

He explained that the school believes in exposing learners to practical experiences beyond the classroom to prepare them for future careers.

“We do not believe in having our learners only stationed in the classroom to learn. We believe in the practical aspect where learners need to be exposed to real-life issues,” he said.

Kachinka said the visit was inspiring for learners, especially those interested in engineering and other technical fields.

“Among our learners, we have engineers who are ready to take up different tasks. Coming here is something that inspires them, and we look forward to seeing them become more motivated to pursue careers in different sectors of the aviation industry,” he said.

He said the tour helped learners understand the important role played by the CAA in ensuring safe air travel and managing Zambia’s airspace.

Kachinka said learners were particularly interested in drone technology, which he described as an emerging area with growing importance in the aviation sector.

“Our learners were specifically interested in observing how drones are operated because we believe this technology is here to stay. We want them to develop an interest in science, engineering, technology and innovation,” he said.

He said the visit supported the school’s ICT pillar, one of its five key pillars aimed at helping learners appreciate how technology is transforming the world.

Kachinka encouraged learners to take advantage of the opportunity by asking questions and engaging with CAA experts during the tour.

“This tour was not just meant for us to come and have fun, but to learn hand-in-hand and gain hands-on experience, especially in terms of how to operate drones,” he said.

He thanked the Civil Aviation Authority and parents for supporting the educational visit, saying such partnerships were important in preparing learners for future careers.

Kachinka further explained that Mwamise Schools was established to bridge the gap between classroom lessons and industrial applications through its five pillars, which include ICT, leadership, music and culture.

“Today we came to the Civil Aviation Authority under the ICT pillar to understand the drone industry and ensure that our learners have first-hand experience of new technologies emerging in the civil aviation sector,” he said.