24/08/2019
Our guest on the Jumpseat today is Captain Mohammed Abubakar (CMA), a Pilot with Nigeria's AirAzman. From a very humble beginning of being an Aircraft Cleaner, Mohammed Abubakar became a Boeing 737 Captain on 30 July, 2018. There's so much inspiration we can draw from Capt Abubakar's determination. You may ask him questions not already covered in the interview. Please share the post as well. Thank you.
AAG: Welcome to the Jumpseat Captain Mohammed Abubakar
CMA: It's my honour and privilege to be on the Jumpseat today.
AAG: For how long have you been a pilot?
CMA: I have been in the cockpit for over 12 years now and still counting.
AAG: Your story is one of the most inspiring aviation stories in recent times. How did you manage to move from being an Aircraft Cleaner to a Pilot?
CMA: The journey was a very long one. After my secondary education I went to the city of Kaduna in order to seek for admission into Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), and unfortunately I was late because the admission had been closed. So I decided to put on with my sister and her husband both of blessed memory who resided in Kaduna.
To stay for a whole year without doing anything looked odd to me, so I was able to get employed as a room services waiter at Kabo Guest Inn Kaduna (Gado Guest Inn) through the assistance of my secondary school mate Manua John also of blessed memory. It was at the Guest Inn that I happened to know some of the guys in black and white with Epaulettes on their shoulders. I got to know some were Operation Officers, some Cabin Crew and the smartest/intimidating ones were Pilots, WOW.
Alhaji Usman AdamuKabo (of blessed memory) was the Senior Operation Manager in Kaduna then. Unknown to me, he had taken interest in me and decided to invite me for the seasonal Hajj operations at that time; I didn't hesitate and was glad and eager for the operations to start. I couldn't make it to be Cabin Crew as wished earlier, but got shortlisted as cleaner on the Jumbo Jet, that was how my journey into aviation industry began. I got so fascinated with the industry so much that I resigned my waiter's job and continue going to Kaduna Airport just on my own. Gradually I continued mingling with the Kabo Air staff especially those that I temporarily worked with during the Hajj, I blend very well with them so much that only few knew I wasn't a staff.
One day on arrival of the domestic service from Lagos one of the Cabin crew named Obi (of blessed memory) called me aside and hinted me about an interview into their department that was coming up at Dubar Hotel and advised me to attend. I went for it and as God would have it on the panel was Mr Patrick Egonye (of blessed memory), who was the Cabin Services Manager of the Airline then. Without mincing words, he personally introduced me to the rest of the panel members and asked them to give me a chance to prove myself. And that was how God buttered my bread and made me a full-pledge Cabin Crew.
I spent good 8 years with Kabo Air as Cabin crew and then moved over to Aero Contractors which happened to be the turning point of my career. From monthly salary of 17,000 Naira to 170,000 Naira, I decided to maintain my life style the way it was and save for the future. I enrolled into a thrift that knew no excuses and very strict to the core. That was how I was able to pay for my initial Pilot training.
AAG: What or who actually inspired you to become a pilot?
CMA: I was inspired by my senior colleagues especially those in the cockpit.
AAG: Did you have access to government scholarship or were you self sponsored?
CMA: Initially I sponsored myself for the Private Pilot License though my State Government gave me 1 million Naira assistance and thereafter, it was Aero contractors that sponsored all my trainings.
AAG: Where and when did you do your various pilot trainings?
CMA: I had my Private Pilot License and Commercial Pilot License training in Canada at SkyQuest Aviation Ltd, British Columbia in 2006. My first type rating was also in Canada, at Flight Safety International Toronto and for the Boeing 737 Classic, I was at Comair Aviation Johannesburg, South Africa.
AAG: Can you remember your first solo flight? What was the experience like?
CMA: My first Solo flight was fantastic, I was aware of it the night before, but unfortunately in the morning it was smoky all over the region because of wild fire from the forest, so I was nervous and angry thinking it was not going to happen that day. My instructor took me out in the sky for one circuit and asked me to be calm and go for it. So I went for it and it was fantastic.
AAG: Please share with us your worst and best experiences as a student pilot.
CMA: My worst experience as a student pilot was getting lost on my way back home from my cross country flight. The best was my night Solo landing.
AAG: After your pilot training, was it difficult to secure your first job as a commercial Pilot?
CMA: Not at all for me, because I was under Aero Contractors pay roll before I left.
AAG: You became a Captain last year, how did you feel moving from the right seat to the left seat?
CMA: The excitement is immeasurable. Sincerely speaking, up to this very moment I still can't find the words to express myself, I only keep giving Gratitude to Almighty God.
AAG: What was the first flight you commanded as a Captain?
CMA: The very first flight I commanded as a Captain was out of Kano on 31st of July 2018 with First Officer Mahi.
AAG: What is the toughest part of being an airline Captain?
CMA: The toughest thing about being a Captain for me is the Decision Making part.
AAG: We understand it's not all fun working in the skies, is there anything you hate about flying?
CMA: I agree with you that it's not always fun working in the sky, but I look at every situation up there as a challenge and it helps me regularly to improve on my flying career.
AAG: How often do you encounter severe turbulence, how do you manage them?
CMA: We encounter weather almost every day, especially now being raining season and I always brief my passengers ahead and avoid the severe part of it, or sometimes I divert to our alternate airport.
AAG: So far, who is your most ‘important’ passenger? (Celebrity, Politician, Religious Leader etc)
CMA: So far I've been privileged to fly some high profile politicians including Senators, Ministers, Governors, Traditional Rulers and Nollywood Actors.
AAG: There seems to be a general impression that Azman Air pilots ‘entertain’ their passengers in-flight. Does this have to do with training or motivation?
CMA: Yes, training and motivation is part of it and above all, our passengers’ safety and satisfaction is paramount and important to us.
AAG: What advice would you pass on to aspiring/student Pilots?
CMA: Aspiring pilots should tighten their belt and study hard to pass all their exams be it written, oral or practical.
AAG: Recently, Nigerian government unveiled a national carrier only to suspend it 2 months later, what’s your take on this? Do you think Nigeria needs a national carrier?
CMA: Nigeria definitely needs a National Carrier. Now that Nigeria has a substantive Minister of Aviation, all hands must be on deck to make it a reality with support from both public and the private sector.
AAG: Finally Captain, which new aircraft are you looking forward to flying in the near future?
CMA: I'm looking forward to flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner soon, God willing.
AAG: Thank you for your time Captain Mohammed Abubakar.
CMA: Once again, I'm honoured and happy to be part of this program.
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