Annabel Vundla

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Annabel Vundla
Born1980 (age 43–44)
South Africa
NationalitySouth African
CitizenshipSouth Africa
EducationKingsway Christian School
Mmabatho High School
South African Air Force
OccupationProfessional pilot
Years activeSince 1999
Known forAviation
Title Flight Captain at South African Airways

Annabel Vundla, is a South African airline transport pilot, who serves as a Flight Captain at South African Airways (SAA), the national carrier airline of South Africa. She is the first black female flight captain at SAA, since the airline was founded more than 90 years ago. Before that, she served in the South African Air Force (1999 to 2010) and was a member of the presidential cockpit crew between 2005 and 2010. In addition, she is a military flight instructor. [1]

Contents

Background and education

She was born in South Africa in 1980. She grew up in the Mafikeng area in the North West Province, close to the border with Botswana. She attended Kingsway Christian School for her primary education. Then she transferred to Mmabatho High School for her secondary education. [1]

While at high school aged 15, a recruiting team from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) visited her school. She signed up. At age 17, following matriculation from high school, she joined the SANDF and underwent two years of military training. In 1999, she joined the South African Air Force as a pilot. Later, she became a military flight instructor. [2]

Career

From 1999 until 2005, Vundla flew for the SAAF, as a pilot and military flight instructor. She was the "first black woman to become a pilot and flight instructor in the history of the South African Defence Force". In 2005 she was selected to become a presidential pilot. Between 2005 and 2010, she piloted ex-presidents, including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. [2] [3]

In 2010, she joined SAA, as a captain on the Boeing 737-800, the fist black South African woman to achieve that rank. As of 2022, Vundla had piloted several aircraft classes including the B737-800, the Presidential Inkwazi BBJ1 (Boeing 737-700), the Dassault Falcon 50 and the Cessna Citation II (C550). [3] She is also qualified and certified as captain on the Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft. [4] As of 2022, Vundla remained on the list of military pilots and is listed as a reserve pilot in the South African Presidential Squadron. [5]

On 25 October 2022, she piloted a Boeing 737 on Flight SA346 from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The fist officer on that flight was Refilwe Moreetsi. This marked the first time a SAA flight was operated by an all-black female cockpit crew, since the airline was founded in the early 20th century. [1] [6]

Personal

Flight Captain Annabel Vundla is a married mother of two. [5]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Siyabonga Mpini (27 October 2023). "Vundla And Refilwe Moreetsi, Two Black Female SA Pilots Who Just Made History". iHarare.com. Harare, Zimbabwe. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 Anna Southwell (7 November 2022). "Dreams soar for 'little girls of colour' after pilots Moreetsi and Vundla command historic flight from Joburg to Cape Town". Daily Maverick . Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Captain Annabel Vundla: Pilot, South African Airways". Wearevuka.com. Cape Town, South Africa. 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. ↑ WPAf (2023). "Captain Annabel Vundla". Women Power Africa (WPAf). Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 Atqnews23 (28 October 2022). "Aviation: First all-Black Women Flight Makes history in South Africa on SAA Johannesburg to Cape Town route". ATQ News. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 30 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Topco Media (January 2023). ""The aircraft doesn't know your gender"". Issuu.com. Cape Town. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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