Audrey Maame Esi Swatson is a remarkable young woman who has achieved her dream of becoming a commercial pilot at 21. She is the first officer of Passion Air, a Ghanaian airline company, flying the Dash 8 Q-400 aircraft. She is also the CEO of Excel Aviation, an aviation company that aims to help young women like her pursue their careers in aviation.
Audrey’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and excellence. She was born on February 23, 1997, and attended the University of Ghana Basic School and Ghana Christian High School. She developed an interest in flying when she was only seven years old and never gave up on her ambition. She enrolled at the Mach1 Aviation Academy in South Africa when she was 18 after completing her secondary education. She had her first solo flight at age 19 and obtained her Commercial Pilot License at age 21.
Audrey faced many challenges and obstacles along the way, but she overcame them with the support of her parents, teachers, and friends. She credits her education as the key to her success: “Apart from God and my parents, I owe everything I am and everything I hope to be to school. Without the education I have received during my lifetime, the friends I have met and have networked with, and the great teachers who have been there for me since day one, I would not be able to move on to a more positive place in my life. I would not be able to have a chance to become a pilot or to be given a chance to inspire other children to be whatever they dream of. Education has fulfilled me, and I am more positive because of it.”
Audrey is a trailblazer in her field and a role model for many young girls and boys who aspire to follow in her footsteps. She is passionate about empowering the next generation of pilots, especially women under-represented in the aviation industry. According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21), only about 5% of airline pilots worldwide are women. Audrey wants to change that statistic by encouraging more girls to pursue their dreams of flying. She said, “I want to inspire young girls that they can become pilots. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.”
Audrey has also received recognition and accolades for her achievements. In 2016, she attended a conference sponsored by International Women in Aviation in the USA as the first African female pilot. She was also nominated and honoured at The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year (Ghana), and the Ministry of Aviation in Ghana celebrated her achievements.
Audrey Maame Esi Swatson exemplifies what young people can achieve through determination, hard work, and passion. She is a source of pride and inspiration for Ghana and Africa. She demonstrates that the limit is simply the beginning.
Another shining example of a lady flying high is Monica Precious Sibalo from Zambia.
Many dream of becoming pilots, but few can afford the expensive training and education required. Monica Precious Sibalo is among the few individuals who surmounted the challenges and fulfilled her dream of becoming a pilot.
Monica started working as a waitress at a local restaurant when she was 18. She had always loved aeroplanes and wanted to be a pilot, but she did not have the money or opportunity to pursue her passion. She worked hard and saved every penny she could, hoping to enroll in a flight school someday.
She did not give up on her dream, even when she faced challenges and discouragement from others. She said, “Some people told me I was wasting my time and should just settle for what I had. They said that flying was not for women, especially not for African women. But I did not listen to them. I knew I had a purpose and vision and was determined to make it happen.”
After 12 years of working as a waitress, Monica finally had enough money to apply for a scholarship at the Ethiopian Aviation Academy, one of the best flight schools in Africa. She passed the entrance exam and the interview and was accepted into the program. She was overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity.
