A 20-year-old Nigerian, Favour Odozor, has
emerged as the youngest with the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) in both Nigeria
and South Africa.
emerged as the youngest with the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) in both Nigeria
and South Africa.
Mr.
Odozor who graduated alongside 15 other trained pilots at the Afrika Union
Aviation Academy (AUAA), Mafikeng, South Africa on Saturday was described as
the new hope of the African aviation industry. Capt. Allan Roebuck, Director of
AUAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg that Mr. Odozor
completed all the 37 flying procedures in record time.
Odozor who graduated alongside 15 other trained pilots at the Afrika Union
Aviation Academy (AUAA), Mafikeng, South Africa on Saturday was described as
the new hope of the African aviation industry. Capt. Allan Roebuck, Director of
AUAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg that Mr. Odozor
completed all the 37 flying procedures in record time.
“The academy is proud of this young Nigerian, with the award of
licence and certificate to him. Today, I can say he is the youngest commercial
licence pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa. “I cannot say now if he is the
youngest African to attain that record, but I’m sure he is the youngest in
South Africa and Nigeria,’’ he said. The AUAA director noted that it requires a
lot of hard work, focus, punctuality and discipline to be trained as a
commercial pilot. “It is not enough to be academically sound to be a good
pilot. It requires focus, punctuality, and discipline to get the commercial
licence and certificate. “It has been a long road for the group of qualified
pilots to obtain their licences. With the award of certificate, they can fly
commercial planes,’’ Mr. Roebuck said. He said the new pilots underwent two
years of rigorous training and 37 flying procedures.
licence and certificate to him. Today, I can say he is the youngest commercial
licence pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa. “I cannot say now if he is the
youngest African to attain that record, but I’m sure he is the youngest in
South Africa and Nigeria,’’ he said. The AUAA director noted that it requires a
lot of hard work, focus, punctuality and discipline to be trained as a
commercial pilot. “It is not enough to be academically sound to be a good
pilot. It requires focus, punctuality, and discipline to get the commercial
licence and certificate. “It has been a long road for the group of qualified
pilots to obtain their licences. With the award of certificate, they can fly
commercial planes,’’ Mr. Roebuck said. He said the new pilots underwent two
years of rigorous training and 37 flying procedures.
On his part, Mr. Odozor said he had always dreamt of becoming a
pilot. “Flying a plane has been my childhood dream, and I am happy today that
I’m a licensed commercial pilot at the age of 20. “I never expected myself to
be the youngest Nigerian to get the commercial pilot licence, not to talk about
in an advanced country like South Africa. I was just pursuing my childhood
dream of being a pilot. “But I thank God that I have now made history, as a
record licensed commercial pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa,’’ Mr. Odozor
said. He said his immediate plan was to go for his instrument type and rating
courses.
pilot. “Flying a plane has been my childhood dream, and I am happy today that
I’m a licensed commercial pilot at the age of 20. “I never expected myself to
be the youngest Nigerian to get the commercial pilot licence, not to talk about
in an advanced country like South Africa. I was just pursuing my childhood
dream of being a pilot. “But I thank God that I have now made history, as a
record licensed commercial pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa,’’ Mr. Odozor
said. He said his immediate plan was to go for his instrument type and rating
courses.
“Aviation training is very
wide. This is just the beginning. My immediate plan is to enrol for my
instrument type rating and Boeing 737 training courses,’’ Mr. Odozor said. Mr.
Odozor has equalled the record set by Ed Gardner, a Briton, who obtained his
commercial pilot licence at the age of 20 in 2008. Before heading for South
Africa for training, the Nigerian attended Uchenna Secondary School in Owerri,
the Imo State capital, graduating in 2009.
wide. This is just the beginning. My immediate plan is to enrol for my
instrument type rating and Boeing 737 training courses,’’ Mr. Odozor said. Mr.
Odozor has equalled the record set by Ed Gardner, a Briton, who obtained his
commercial pilot licence at the age of 20 in 2008. Before heading for South
Africa for training, the Nigerian attended Uchenna Secondary School in Owerri,
the Imo State capital, graduating in 2009.
Source: Premium Times
