Mang’u school’s aviation study center gets Boeing aircraft boost
Hundreds of students in Mang’u High School are set to benefit arm immensely in their aviation studies following a strategic partnership with KCB to boost their learning in the next five years.
The regional lender has stepped forward to equip the School’s aviation center in a bid to offer the learners hands-on experience in aviation and prepare them for careers in the aviation industry.
As part of the deal, national carrier Kenya Airways has donated Boeing 737-700 aircraft to the school and the bank will help relocate it from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to the Thika-based learning centre and support in further kitting the aviation school.
In total, the bank will invest roughly Kes5 million towards the project.
Boeing B737-700 is an aircraft that entered service in 1997 replacing the 737-300 model. The aircraft has a capacity of 126 passengers in two-class or 149 one-class configurations. It measures 33.6 metres in length.
“KCB remains committed in supporting the youth agenda and that includes access to skills development, business development support and financing. We believe that a strong investment in our youth today is a recipe for economic growth. Through this sponsorship, our goal is to inspire students to take up a career in the aviation sector with a long-term goal of mainstreaming it in our curriculum,” said KCB Group CEO Paul Russo.
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The Mang’u aviation training programme is projected to train a critical mass of future air traffic controllers, aircraft engineers, and pilots among other professions in the aviation sector.
Mang’u High School is one of the few schools in Kenya that offer aviation training, focusing on technical skills such as propulsion, thermodynamics, and meteorology.
Many aviation students in Kenya carry out their studies at Wilson Airport and Moi Air Base in Eastleigh.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from KCB and other organisations. We believe that a strong aviation program is essential for preparing students for the future in this field, ” said Mang’u High School Board of Management Chairman, Mr Anthony Maina Mithanga.
Government statistics show that Kenya has a deficit of over 2000 pilots and has an ambition of training at least 800 annually in the next five years.
