FLIGHT PATH QUICK FACTS
Elizabeth Vavashe
First female helicopter pilot, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe CURRENT JOB
I am a helicopter pilot at Zambezi Helicopter Co., which provides scenic flights over the Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River in southern Africa
FIRST VERTICAL AVIATION JOB My first real helicopter job is my current role with Zambezi Helicopter Co., where I have
worked for close to eight years now.
FAVORITE HELICOPTER
There are aspects of different helicopters that I love. I love the sound of the Bell 412 blades, the versatility of the Leonardo AW139, the sleek look of the
Airbus H160, the effortless lift of the S-64 Aircrane, the
affordability of the Robinson models, and the serious face of the Sikorsky S-92.
How did you decide helicopter aviation was the career for you? I first became interested in a career as a helicopter pilot through a company- sponsored training facility at my former job. The company owned a Robinson R22 and a Bell 206A JetRanger and needed pilots for their wildlife conserva- tion work. After a rigorous interview pro- cess, I emerged as one of two top candidates. I landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jun. 3, 2005, to begin flight training. Prior to that, I had never been close to a helicopter. My first train- ing flight was also my first helicopter flight, and I immediately knew flying heli- copters was my life’s calling. Unfortunately, as a female pilot, I
faced prejudice and other barriers during training and while trying to get a job after completing my CPL [commercial pilot’s license] in 2008. I dedicated the next eight years to advocating change and keeping my dream of flying alive. In 2016, I got my break, joining my current
company as a line pilot. I love that the com- pany gave me a chance to fly. Fast-forward to 2023, and I received the Leonardo AW139 Flight Training Course scholarship through Whirly-Girls International. This scholarship has been a major highlight of my career so far. I know helicopters chose me rather than
VIEW
a Zambezi helicopter tour over the Victoria Falls
me choosing them, because I have set the record for the highest number of hours flown by a Zimbabwean female pilot: 2,800 hours and counting. Helicopter flying has shaped and molded my character in many more ways than I can mention. I attended HAI HELI- EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California. It was my first show, and I met some incredible helicop- ter people there.
How did you get to your current position? In 2015, I wanted to convert my South African CPL to a Zimbabwean CPL, so I went to Zambezi Helicopter for the conversion check- ride. After flying with the chief pilot in a Bell
54 ROTOR JUNE 2024
206 for the checkride, I got a job offer a few months down the line. I became the compa- ny’s first civilian-trained pilot—and Zimbabwe’s first female helicopter pilot.
What are your career goals? My goal is to fly the AW139. I would like to continue being a role model for young people in my community and in disadvantaged com- munities around the world. I am currently in training for my flight instructor ratings, cour- tesy of my employer, and hope that I will be able to teach and share my love for helicop- ters with others in the future.
What advice would you give someone pursuing your career path? Stay true to your life’s purpose and pick something you will enjoy as a career, because this choice will significantly affect all other aspects of your life. Always look at things from other people’s perspectives and keep learning and evolving.
Who inspires you? I am inspired by my parents, my pastors, my siblings, my friends from across the globe, and women helicopter pilots. The Whirly-Girls played a significant role in reviving my career. I am inspired by Stacy Sheard, past chair of HAI (now VAI); Emilia Njovana, the first
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