How Captain Koki Mutungi became Kenya’s first female Dreamliner pilot

She was born with a passion for flying, inspired by her parents who worked in the aviation industry. She defied the odds and pursued her dream of becoming a pilot in a male-dominated field. She made history as the first female pilot in Kenya, and later as the first female captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Africa. She is Irene Koki Mutungi, a trailblazer and a role model for women in aviation.

Koki Mutungi’s story began in 1976, when she was born to a Kenyan father who was a commercial pilot with Kenya Airways, and a mother who was an air hostess. She grew up listening to stories of adventure in the sky, and developed a fascination with airplanes and flying. She attended Moi Girls School Nairobi, where she excelled academically. After graduating high school in 1992, at the age of 17, she enrolled in flight school at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, where she obtained her Private Pilot’s License. She then continued her pilot education in Oklahoma City in the United States, where she was awarded the Commercial Pilot’s License by the Federal Aviation Administration .

She returned to Kenya in 1995 and was hired by Kenya Airways, as their first female pilot. She was the only female pilot at the airline for the next six years . She steadily climbed the ranks, accumulating flight hours and experience, but her most remarkable achievement was yet to come. In 2004, she became the first African woman to qualify to captain a commercial aircraft, when she qualified to command the Boeing 737 . She has since qualified to command the Boeing 767. She then took the conversion course which allowed her to transition to commanding a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Kenya Airways then promoted her to Captain of the B787, making her the first African female Boeing 787 Captain in the world . Her employer made that announcement on 15 April 2014 .

Koki Mutungi’s achievement was not just a personal milestone; it was a milestone for gender equality in aviation. She became a symbol of inspiration for women aspiring to careers in male-dominated fields. Her success proved that gender should never be a barrier to pursuing one’s dreams and passions. “I always tell young girls not to be scared of anything,” she said in an interview with Forbes Magazine . “If you have a passion for something, go for it.”

Koki Mutungi is also a mother of one son, born circa 2006 . She enjoys flying and mentoring others, especially female pilots . In September 2014, she was one of 39 pilots at Kenya Airways, out of a total of 530 and she was the designated Captain on the Nairobi to Paris route on the B787 . In December 2014, she was named among “The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014”, by Forbes Magazine .

Koki Mutungi is not just a pilot; she is a trailblazer. She is a role model for future generations of female aviators, and her legacy will continue to inspire and empower women in the aviation industry and beyond. She has shown that dreams can indeed take flight, no matter how high the ceiling may seem. In a world where the sky is not the limit, Koki Mutungi’s story reminds us that, with determination and unwavering belief in oneself, we can soar to new horizons, break through barriers, and make history.

Also in the news is the story of Alex and Alan, identical twin pilots at Alaska Airlines. Alex and Alan are not your ordinary pilots. They are identical twin brothers who share a passion for aviation since they were three years old. They are also believed to be the first set of identical twin pilots at Alaska Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the United States.

The brothers were born and raised in Kenya, where they developed their love for flying by going plane spotting with their dad every Sunday after church, and accompanying their mom on every business trip. They moved to California when they were 13 years old and continued to pursue their dream of becoming pilots.

They both enrolled in flight school and worked as fuelers at different airports to gain experience and save money for their training. They also played with Microsoft Flight Simulator, a program that simulates flying a real aircraft. “After I started playing with the program, that was it. I knew I wanted to do that [fly] for a job,” said Alan. Click here to read more about Alex and Alan.

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