At the tender age of twenty years old, Kalenga Kamwendo has become Zambia’s youngest pilot, having been hired as part of Proflight Zambia’s commitment to supporting Zambian youth and nurturing young local talent.
Kamwendo was given the job on his 20th Birthday in August last year, and has since joined Proflight’s team of 36 pilots operating across Zambia as well as Malawi as a First Officer.
Born in Kitwe in Zambia’s Copperbelt, Kamwendo took an avid interest in the aviation industry whilst in Grade 10 or 11 at school. A strong student in English, Maths and Physics, he enrolled for Forty Three Air School in South Africa’s Eastern Cape after graduating from secondary school in 2011.
A year and three months later, he had racked up 200 hours of flying and his commercial pilot’s license in hand, despite being much younger than a number of his peers. Kamwendo has now done almost 500 hours of flying since joining Proflight Zambia.
Recalling his first day as a commercial pilot, Kamwendo says:
“I was nervous; I didn’t even have the full uniform. I was flying to Kasama and had to be up at 4am”. But that’s all in the past now. He goes on:
“There are tons of thrills, from something as simple as seeing a passenger happy, to the thrill of flying.
Kamwendo had originally planned to become an engineer like his father, but on hearing that there was a mistaken belief that Zambians could not become pilots, he was determined to set the record straight.
Today, he stands as proud testament of the potential of Zambia’s youth, and what they can achieve when given the chance. He sends a clear message to all young Zambians that the sky may not be the limit — it could be even higher.
[Zambia Tourism]
Well done and keep going higher!
He was just after I graduated high school and the same time I left Zed, now I got hope of hiring a Zedian young Pilot once I pay off my private jet. Because I’m bring my bird to CB.
Well done! This is something I would like to read somtimes, not about bickering politicians all day everyday.
Very good article indeed. Well done young man. What a breather from headlines like “PF Youth Beat up UPND Cadres”, “Suspected PF Youth Stab UPND Cadre to Death”.
Young people can achieve great things if the older and tired folks nurture them properly rather than use them for their selfish ends!
Abena Chintomfwa, ne chisungu chashupa, Private Jet?? More like private coffin!
Well done kid but It will be a few years before I can get on his plane!
I prefer seasoned pilots with many flying hours when I am crossing the Atlantic in the middle of the night!
Good for you young man! There are many talented young people in Zambia with great potential but they don’t have anyone to give them a leg up, so their potential is never realised. This young man went to flight school in SA because somebody paid for it, probably his parents, so he’s able to succeed. Talent without opportunity is nothing. Let’s help our young people to succeed for the good of all. I for one am working on sponsoring a talented young man with no blood connection. Why should his talent go to waste simply because he doesn’t have anyone to throw him a rope?
Nubian Princess, you are such a sad person. You just had to drop in some negative vibe. He is a kid! Put your hands together for him.
It will be years before Proflight begins to make transatlantic flights anyway. Or were you trying to show us that you actually fly across the Atlantic? Bul1shiit!
Some of you people are so sad that you can’t recognize a happy moment.
Shut the front door!
Great well done son.
Well done young man, all the best
From your friends in Livingstone 2015
We need young people like you. God be with you buddy. You are an inspiration. You have a bright future, guard it jealously.
A pilot is just like a driver or heavy equipment operator. Engineers deserve better applause
batashe ico wamwene; nkusa iwe!!!
Ushitasha kwena mwana wa ndoshi,….
What this boy has achieved is remarkable
Poor road mapping is one of the many reason that we do not have well qualified engineers. You have to be amonkey to climb footbridges over the motorway. How will our disabled and handicapped manage?? Late Mwanawasa the then presido goads by pointing out that there are half barked unza graduates to their annoyance.
@@Bridget
Second woman to say som’ shit. I revere women, but you and Nubian Princess are exhibiting porcupine-like behavior.
What is the matter with you?
No wonder buffoonery is glorified in Zambia, mothers are losing it.
If the kind traveled from Chipata to Lusaka on the differential of a CR bus, you would be throwing bogus prayers on him and pretending to be symathetic to his situation. “What is his contact information…?” Now here is a kid who does not need your handouts, instead of saying ‘well done kido,’ you say som’ stupid.
What’s wrong with you???
Well done young man. May the Almighty God continue to guide you!! You have made Riverside UCZ proud and your family!!
I hope takakepaishye abantu akakene. 20 old pilot without training or expirence.
Teti nkwelemo umo muli “Never Come Back Airlines”
He has both training & experience iwe. Check his CV and credentials again.
Walichenjela kamwaiche ayi.
Mwayamba jealousy. Piloting is more technical than driving a motor vehicle. It is a fulfilling job to fly people.
Flying is easy….even hill billies who have never been to school can fly….its the experience in different conditions that counts.
Great news indeed
Well done young man,I see a bright future ahead of you,let’s show the world that Zambians have potential am also pursuing a honors in Aeronautical engineering . God bless you abundantly bra!!
Well done young man,I see a bright future ahead of you,let’s show the world that Zambians have potential am also pursuing a honors in Aeronautical engineering at CBU . God bless you abundantly bra!!
congratulations. stay focused. stay away from booze, girls and politicians
congrats young man, you have made us proud. just like any professional please stay away from snipers (women and girls) and buzy. God bless you.
KEEP IT UP YOUNG MAN YOU ARE A MENTOR TO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE INCLUDING MY OWN CHILDREN.
Wow a big well done job to the young man and I would actually claim he is probably the youngest pilot in the world. IN most countries especially in EU he would probably not even be give a piloting licence for a commercial flights. As a Zambian I’m really proud of him and his achievement. Ati the sky is the limit indeed!
Flying is not as easy to a lazy and simple mind as some of you are putting it. Its highly technical and involves analytical and navigational skills. You also need to be well versed in meteorology. Hope you know what it takes to navigate through bad weather and constantly monitoring instruments trying to be at the right altitude, right speed and balancing the aircraft. Watch air crash investigation on National Geographic and see what challenges pilots face. No wonder you find that most pilots have engineering degrees specializing in aeronautics especially those from many Air Forces world over.
At what age does one qualify for a drivers license? Congrats boy!
My son has just completed his course at ZASTI, and this young man reminds me of him. The Government should support more young people to attain such great achievements in life. Well done young man! Now you need to graduate in life styles and mature into a responsible citizen
Bafikala ama jealous napashilingile??? is it difficult just to say congrats?
Elo have you noticed that most of those that are passing negative comments all support the same political party?
Well done young man!
One brotherman wrote, a plane is the one of the simplest man made machines to operate. But if you make a mistake while doing so it rarely forgives. Congrats sonny boy!
Driver in the air!
Well done young man.Stay focused.
Well done!! Proud of this young man.
Excellent achievement young man. Though I am petrified of flying having watched all the episodes of Air crash investigation. I would need to go in a plane like B.A. Baracus.
Kalengo mufana, ndiwe good news sonny. God bless you.
LT enyuzi i… (this is news worth reporting)
Thanks for enlightening us about positive developments in our country. With such characters Zambia is assured a bright future.
Awesome!!!!! This is great news for us..well done young fellow..
Very good achievement young man! The determination to change some the wrong perception of some people and their “one way thinking” is the jutting point in this success story.
Nothing to be proud of. My son also drives a taxi in Solwezi. What is the difference? They all carry passengers any way.My son did not go to grade 12 but drives. Why spend so many years in school and end up a mere plane driver.? Get a life young man. You are wasting your time sitting for hours fidgitting with gears and looking at a campus. For your level of education you can do better things.
ulifontini sana iwe ayi? Just continue rearing goats there
Kalengo – Do not worry about some of the ignorance portrayed in some of the comments. Focus on your great work. One of these days you may even help train others. You are on the right track for success.
I AM CAPTIVATED
Well done Kalengo, I wish you many tailwinds.
From an old pilot born in Kitwe.
Nkana product. in PLOT 1 Its NKANA product.
Well done Kelenga continue doing what you are doing and being a great example to other youngsters. Safe Skies and Happy Flying.
Andre (www.yesflyers.org.uk)
Well done young man. I know the hardships of becoming a pilot especially in a country like Zed. were we have no flagship carrier. for you the sky is no longer the limit. you home is were the birds glide.
Hey man….you my inspiration I have a dream to be a pilot someday too and by Gods grace he’ll pull me through…..
God bless you