National carrier gets first Rwandan captain

Bosco Murabukirwa became the first Rwandan RwandAir pilot to attain the rank of captain. This follows his promotion last week at Kigali International Airport.By virtue of his promotion, Murabukirwa also became the first Rwandan to put on a four-striped pilot jacket-on Boeing 737. The jacket mandates him to be in the left cockpit of the Boeing 737.He will now be in control of Airlines B737-800NG and B737-700NG aircraft, until another Rwandan graduates to his level.The development is part of a sustained effort to bring more Rwandan nationals “on board” as pilots and aircraft technicians, according to John Mirenge, the Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir.“The stripes show the pilot’s level of flight experience and his responsibilities in an aircraft. Murabukirwa will be addressed as Captain for the rest of his life,” Mirenge said.He said the national carrier is targeting to reduce on the rate of recruitment of foreign pilots, and to address the pilot shortage in the country.Captain Murabukirwa pledged his continued support to the country’s aviation industry.“I am happy to have become not only the first Rwandan captain, but also a captain flying the national carrier of my own country,” Murabukirwa said.Murabukirwa completed his “check out flight” under the supervision of RwandAir’s Director of Flight Operations Capt. Santos Pio.The company employs another 12 Rwandan pilots serving as first officers.