Kishugu Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) is looking forward to a great year of positive growth, despite of difficult global economic conditions.

This is the prediction of the confident head of the ATO, Carel van der Merwe, reflecting on the five years of success it has achieved since opening its doors at its base at Nelspruit Airfield.

Kishugu ATO is part of Kishugu Holdings, which is a global company working for the greater good. Its most recent achievement was the training of nine females selected by the SAPS for private pilot licences (PPL). They will join an elite group of pilots in the SAPS Air Wing. All these pilots will go on to train for their commercial licences at the ATO.

“We have a lot to be proud of, ” says Van der Merwe. “But our future begins today, and we are hungry for even more success.”

Kishugu ATO offers students flight training from pupil to private pilot and commercial certification. Students can study full time or part time at this academy.

“We structure our courses around our clients’ needs and time frames. We are open to local and international students for our training which is equivalent to the best training you can get.”

The ATO offers both young and older aspiring pilots a chance to graduate with a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) recognised PPL or commercial pilot licence (CPL), qualifying them for recreational flying or a career in aviation.

The opportunity is also there to maybe work at Kishugu, which is a global entity.

Van der Merwe explains that Kishugu ATO is the preferred training facility because it takes pride in the excellence of its successful training methods.

“We provide our clients with high-quality flight training and all the practical experience they require to qualify for a career in commercial aviation. Some areas of our training take place at KMIA.

“Because Working on Fire forms part of Kishugu, we regularly ferry aircraft across South Africa, enabling our PPL pilots to build ‘free’ hours towards their CPL.”

The Kishugu ATO is staffed by some of the most experienced and respected pilot trainers in the country. It has the capacity to train 25 students a year to join the 250 pilots, many from Mozambique, Swaziland, India and European countries, who have already qualified.

“Come fly with us and join us in looking forward to a successful year of positive growth,” Van der Merwe concludes.

Original article published on lowvelder.co.za.