The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) yesterday hosted a Welcome Ceremony for the two young pilot students who were recruited in 2017 to study for Private Pilot License (PPL). The two students are, Ms Baby Mthethwa from Cyril Clarke Secondary School in Mataffin and Mr Colleen Mdhluli from Nhanyane Secondary school in Nkomazi.
After completion of their matric, they were sent to a Flight Training College in the Western Cape to acquire the necessary skills and ultimately receive their private pilot licenses.
The training of these pilots is part of the MTPA’s strategy to fight the scourge of rhino poaching in and around the MTPA’s Nature Reserves within the province. This training will afford these students an opportunity to operate light aircrafts that the MTPA has purchased. Continuous on-the-job training will be facilitated at the MTPA as well as with other key stakeholders like the Kruger National Park. This milestone will contribute in the transformation of conservation aviation services.
