ANGELA KABALI: Navigating the Unique Demands of the Aviation Industry
Angela Kabali is the President of the Tanzanian Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (TATSEA), taking over the reins of office from Francis Charle. A Principal Air Navigation Engineer at the Tanzania Civil aviation Authority (TCAA) with 14 years of experience in the aviation field, Angela stands out as a beacon of hope for women striving to make impacts in a largely patriarchal industry. Given her wealth of experience in the CNS (communication, navigation and surveillance) field and her passion for knowledge sharing, she was reassigned at the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority and currently works as Chief Instructor for CNS, building competency in the areas of instructional techniques. She is also an ICAO certified aviation training instructor. Aside from this and given Angela’s hard work and flexibility, she was recently selected as an ICAO cybersecurity panel member representing Tanzania. From the academic perspective, Angela holds a Bachelor degree in Telecommunications Engineering, a Master’s degree in Engineering Management (specialising in Projects management) and Masters in Education Management and Administration.
In this interview with Air Traffic Safety Electronics International Managing Editor, Adeyinka Olumuyiwa Osunwusi, Angela shared her insights regarding the Tanzanian aviation sector and the role of women in the male-dominated aviation ecosystem.
Recently, you took up the reins of office as the President of the Tanzania Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (TATSEA). How significant is this to you, especially in the context of being a female ATSEP in a largely patriarchal aviation sector?
I feel really honoured to be the President of TATSEA. It is a challenging assignment in this growing industry. TATSEA had a woman president before. Whether it is male or female, the spirit is of the engineers which goes into the institution. In that way, I am really honoured.
And how would you describe your journey so far in a largely male-dominated industry?
A woman has to work twice harder than a man. You need to earn the trust by being competent in whatever you do. I do my job with high efficiency and no complaints. And, I have always been open to new challenges and domains which has opened many doors for me to date.
How would you describe today the status of the air traffic safety electronics profession in Tanzania?
The ATSEP profession in Tanzania is striving to seek its recognition. The profession is highly valued in the industry because of the competency shown towards safety of the airspace but people really do not appreciate the importance of the field. Engineers work tirelessly in the background to ensure safety is achieved.
And where does Tanzania stand today regarding the training, certification, and licensing of Tanzanian ATSEP?
Trainings provided to ATSEP has changed compared to how it was 10 years back. Trainings are focused on enabling ATSEP to solve up to level 3 of maintenance. On certification and licensing, we are yet to finalise the document. However, from 2020, the training of all ATSEP recruits follows ICAO Doc 10057 ATSEP training guidelines. The main challenge is the modality of licensing because our engineers work in pool and specialization is on equipment and not domain.
As the TATSEA President, what are your visions and agenda for the promotion of air traffic safety electronics practices in Tanzania?
As TATSEA president, my vision and goal are to make good use of the expertise of my team and learn from international standards, operational procedures and industry best practices in order to advise our government to invest on advanced CNS/ATM technologies. My agenda is to push forward the visibility of Tanzanian ATSEPs in the industry by showcasing their achievements in various projects as well as ensure proper implementation of ATSEP licensing and certification.
Talking from the perspectives of gender equality and inclusiveness, how would you describe the place of women today as far as the Tanzanian aviation landscape is concerned?
Tanzania has made a big step. Out of 5 directors, 2 are women. Our CNS boss is also a woman. And this is seen in other aviation sectors in the country. Tanzania embraces gender equality so growth is measured in competency.
And would you say that Tanzanian female ATSEP are getting a fair deal as far as engagement rates and career progression are concerned?
Yes, women ATSEP are getting fair opportunities. Tanzania embraces gender equality and inclusivity.
What do you see as the most significant challenges confronting female ATSEPs in Tanzania and across Africa?
Aviation has its unique demands in terms of service delivery. There are issues of shift-works and travelling to remote sites as well as working in harsh environments and with complex systems coupled with rapid advancement of aviation technology. One can go on and on. The female ATSEP has to balance family and career. The busy schedules and work demands have to be balanced. The women in engineering and those who have grown in the ladder are really excellent examples.
Is TATSEA under your watch doing anything to broaden the horizons of female ATSEP in Tanzania as well as encourage more women to embrace the CNS/ATM profession?
TATSEA is advocating capacity building for female ATSEP towards honing management and leadership skills. When women climb the ladder, representation will be increasing. The same goes for professional visibility.
And how involved are you with the IFATSEA Global’s Women Wing?
I am a new entrant in this domain but I am sure Tanzania will assume a greater role in the IFATSEA global women wing.
What are your thoughts regarding the future of women in the context of the air traffic safety electronics profession in Tanzania and beyond?
The future is bright in terms of the profession. Our voices are being heard and respected in the organization. We have to work hard to ensure that the number of female ATSEP increases. Efforts are being made to encourage girls to pursue STEM subjects all over the world; so this will motivate employers to consider female candidates during selection.
Overall, what do you see as the major drivers of the future of the CNS/ATM profession in Tanzania in particular and Africa in general?
The drivers of the future CNS/ATM are a combination of things. CNS/ATM safety demands require modernization of technology to match the new players like AI and cyber threats. Talking from the perspective of training, capacity building and skills development through competency-based trainings for ATSEP is the major driver, followed by regional cooperation and integration. When these two are enhanced, we will witness the profession soaring beyond the boundaries of Africa. ◙
All rights reserved. No part of this material or the content of this website may be reproduced or published in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Contact: atsei@dextermarie.com
ANGELA KABALI: Navigating the Unique Demands of the Aviation Industry
Angela Kabali is the President of the Tanzanian Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (TATSEA), taking over the reins of office from Francis Charle. A Principal Air Navigation Engineer at the Tanzania Civil aviation Authority (TCAA) with 14 years of experience in the aviation field, Angela stands out as a beacon of hope for women striving to make impacts in a largely patriarchal industry. Given her wealth of experience in the CNS (communication, navigation and surveillance) field and her passion for knowledge sharing, she was reassigned at the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority and currently works as Chief Instructor for CNS, building competency in the areas of instructional techniques. She is also an ICAO certified aviation training instructor. Aside from this and given Angela’s hard work and flexibility, she was recently selected as an ICAO cybersecurity panel member representing Tanzania. From the academic perspective, Angela holds a Bachelor degree in Telecommunications Engineering, a Master’s degree in Engineering Management (specialising in Projects management) and Masters in Education Management and Administration.
In this interview with Air Traffic Safety Electronics International Managing Editor, Adeyinka Olumuyiwa Osunwusi, Angela shared her insights regarding the Tanzanian aviation sector and the role of women in the male-dominated aviation ecosystem.
Recently, you took up the reins of office as the President of the Tanzania Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (TATSEA). How significant is this to you, especially in the context of being a female ATSEP in a largely patriarchal aviation sector?
I feel really honoured to be the President of TATSEA. It is a challenging assignment in this growing industry. TATSEA had a woman president before. Whether it is male or female, the spirit is of the engineers which goes into the institution. In that way, I am really honoured.
And how would you describe your journey so far in a largely male-dominated industry?
A woman has to work twice harder than a man. You need to earn the trust by being competent in whatever you do. I do my job with high efficiency and no complaints. And, I have always been open to new challenges and domains which has opened many doors for me to date.
How would you describe today the status of the air traffic safety electronics profession in Tanzania?
The ATSEP profession in Tanzania is striving to seek its recognition. The profession is highly valued in the industry because of the competency shown towards safety of the airspace but people really do not appreciate the importance of the field. Engineers work tirelessly in the background to ensure safety is achieved.
And where does Tanzania stand today regarding the training, certification, and licensing of Tanzanian ATSEP?
Trainings provided to ATSEP has changed compared to how it was 10 years back. Trainings are focused on enabling ATSEP to solve up to level 3 of maintenance. On certification and licensing, we are yet to finalise the document. However, from 2020, the training of all ATSEP recruits follows ICAO Doc 10057 ATSEP training guidelines. The main challenge is the modality of licensing because our engineers work in pool and specialization is on equipment and not domain.
As the TATSEA President, what are your visions and agenda for the promotion of air traffic safety electronics practices in Tanzania?
As TATSEA president, my vision and goal are to make good use of the expertise of my team and learn from international standards, operational procedures and industry best practices in order to advise our government to invest on advanced CNS/ATM technologies. My agenda is to push forward the visibility of Tanzanian ATSEPs in the industry by showcasing their achievements in various projects as well as ensure proper implementation of ATSEP licensing and certification.
Talking from the perspectives of gender equality and inclusiveness, how would you describe the place of women today as far as the Tanzanian aviation landscape is concerned?
Tanzania has made a big step. Out of 5 directors, 2 are women. Our CNS boss is also a woman. And this is seen in other aviation sectors in the country. Tanzania embraces gender equality so growth is measured in competency.
And would you say that Tanzanian female ATSEP are getting a fair deal as far as engagement rates and career progression are concerned?
Yes, women ATSEP are getting fair opportunities. Tanzania embraces gender equality and inclusivity.
What do you see as the most significant challenges confronting female ATSEPs in Tanzania and across Africa?
Aviation has its unique demands in terms of service delivery. There are issues of shift-works and travelling to remote sites as well as working in harsh environments and with complex systems coupled with rapid advancement of aviation technology. One can go on and on. The female ATSEP has to balance family and career. The busy schedules and work demands have to be balanced. The women in engineering and those who have grown in the ladder are really excellent examples.
Is TATSEA under your watch doing anything to broaden the horizons of female ATSEP in Tanzania as well as encourage more women to embrace the CNS/ATM profession?
TATSEA is advocating capacity building for female ATSEP towards honing management and leadership skills. When women climb the ladder, representation will be increasing. The same goes for professional visibility.
And how involved are you with the IFATSEA Global’s Women Wing?
I am a new entrant in this domain but I am sure Tanzania will assume a greater role in the IFATSEA global women wing.
What are your thoughts regarding the future of women in the context of the air traffic safety electronics profession in Tanzania and beyond?
The future is bright in terms of the profession. Our voices are being heard and respected in the organization. We have to work hard to ensure that the number of female ATSEP increases. Efforts are being made to encourage girls to pursue STEM subjects all over the world; so this will motivate employers to consider female candidates during selection.
Overall, what do you see as the major drivers of the future of the CNS/ATM profession in Tanzania in particular and Africa in general?
The drivers of the future CNS/ATM are a combination of things. CNS/ATM safety demands require modernization of technology to match the new players like AI and cyber threats. Talking from the perspective of training, capacity building and skills development through competency-based trainings for ATSEP is the major driver, followed by regional cooperation and integration. When these two are enhanced, we will witness the profession soaring beyond the boundaries of Africa. ◙
All rights reserved. No part of this material or the content of this website may be reproduced or published in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Contact: atsei@dextermarie.com