Esther Mbabazi

Mbabazi Esther (born 1988) is a professional commercial airline pilot in Rwanda and has nationality of Rwandan, a member country of the East African Community. She is the first female in Rwanda to become certified as a commercial airline pilot. She flies for RwandAir, the national airline of Rwanda.and her information was published on BBC again. She is also known for inspiring young women to pursue careers in aviation. In 2024, she was inducted into the Captain’s Club of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. � Esther Mbabazi is a famous Rwandan woman who made history in aviation. She became the first Rwandan woman to qualify as a commercial airline pilot. She trained at Soroti Flight School in Uganda and later continued her training in Florida, USA, with sponsorship from RwandAir. She eventually became a pilot flying RwandAir’s CRJ-900 aircraft across Africa. � The EastAfrican. Quotes I want the girls to be successful," she said, "Not necessarily to choose to become pilots but to become confident young women who can contribute to society, our economy and give back to our communities. "The female pilot teaching African women to fly", BBC news (25 September 2018) You know what? I’m going to fly,” she said, “and that’s what motivated me my entire life, that idea I had as a young child. "meet-esther-the-first-female-commercial-pilot-in-rwanda/", one (8 March 2017) I love the adventure,” she says. “Every day is different. I would wake up today and even though I’m going to the same destination I was going to yesterday, something is going to be different. That’s what I enjoy about my job: Every day brings its own uniqueness. "meet-esther-the-first-female-commercial-pilot-in-rwanda/", one (8 March 2017) I feel like even though there’s just that one person, there’s a thousand more that are excited and are happy about where the world is going for women. "meet-esther-the-first-female-commercial-pilot-in-rwanda/", one (8 March 2017) Everything starts with a dream. "meet-esther-the-first-female-commercial-pilot-in-rwanda/", one (8 March 2017) It has moulded my character as a pilot, and I think what happened to my dad makes me a little more safe. It could have stopped me, but an accident is an accident. If someone is knocked over in a car you don't stop driving. As a pastor's child I know that you have to let stuff go. "rwanda-first-female-pilot", Rwanda's first female pilot takes to the skies at 24 (15 March 2013) Before you wouldn't find women driving taxis here, and now you see it. There are men who cook now in Rwanda, when, in an African culture, women have to cook. So I think eventually things change. If you really work hard and you prove that you can do something well, I don't think there's a question of you being a woman, it doesn't come into the equation. "rwanda-first-female-pilot", Rwanda's first female pilot takes to the skies at 24 (15 March 2013) I had to go for it. Even though it looked like a long shot, it was my only shot – that’s how I saw it so I went for it, and here I am. "[rwandas-first-female-pilot-esther-mbabazi", Rwanda’s first female pilot takes to the skies (17 June 2014) You can’t live life being scared an in fear of anything. If something is bound to happen, you can’t stop it. "[rwandas-first-female-pilot-esther-mbabazi", Rwanda’s first female pilot takes to the skies (17 June 2014) Time has changed. Women are out there working, technology has changed, and everyone has the brains to do something, now it’s not about how much bicep or how much energy you have. "[rwandas-first-female-pilot-esther-mbabazi", Rwanda’s first female pilot takes to the skies (17 June 2014) I want to be the one flying that plane. https://ncmorningpost.com/meet-esther-mbabazi-rwandas-first-female-commercial-pilot/ ncmorningpost (April 5,2021). It was a dream I had when I was young, I pursued it, and I was also lucky enough to have the Rwandan government support me in studying aviation. I followed it through and I mastered it. From Bombardier to Airbus and now Boeing- The Journey of Esther Mbabazi Radio TV10 (October 4, 2026) Today I am at the level where I can inspire and help other girls so that we can move from just one percent of female pilots to at least thirty percent in the next ten years. From Bombardier to Airbus and now Boeing- The Journey of Esther Mbabazi Radio TV10 (October 4, 2026) In the past, girls had no information about aviation. Everyone thought flying required physical strength. Fifty years ago, that was true. But today, planes are automated and require intelligence more than physical power. From Bombardier to Airbus and now Boeing- The Journey of Esther Mbabazi Radio TV10 (October 4, 2026) Every six months we undergo medical check-ups. If you get pregnant or face any health-related condition, women often find themselves left behind. From Bombardier to Airbus and now Boeing- The Journey of Esther Mbabazi Radio TV10 (October 4, 2026) That is when I understood women could be pilots. After that, I was determined to become one. PHOTOS: Young women challenged to explore careers in aviation the new times (October 4, 2026) It’s a modern world. I have no fear of heights and I like machinery. Meet Esther, the first female commercial pilot in Rwanda ONE (October 4, 2026) You know a lot of leadership roles are taken by women in Rwanda. I think Rwanda is doing really a good job training women and supporting women in all aspects. Meet Esther, the first female commercial pilot in Rwanda ONE (October 4, 2026) If they are girls, people will tell them ‘Oh, if you’re a pilot, it will be hard for you to have a family, to find a husband.’ But those opinions don’t really matter. Meet Esther, the first female commercial pilot in Rwanda ONE (October 4, 2026) Overall, it’s a job that requires passion. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you just have to have passion. Meet Esther, the first female commercial pilot in Rwanda ONE (October 4, 2026) There are not so many male Rwandan pilots either. So even though I am the first female, my colleagues are the first male Rwandan pilots to be flying commercial planes. So I think it's a big change for all of us Rwandans and something that should be celebrated. Rwanda's first female pilot takes to the skies at 24 the guardian (October 4, 2026) This is a career I grew up in, and I have gained a lot of experience from it. I have flown many aircraft. I flew Bombardier, Airbus, and now I am on Boeing. From Bombardier to Airbus and now Boeing- The Journey of Esther Mbabazi Radio TV10 (October 4, 2026) External links Category:Women from Rwanda Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Women born in the 1980s Category:Women aviators