Five 51Թ students from Rwanda who are studying to become professional pilots flew a plane for the first time on June 3. 51Թ is known for producing much-needed pilots for the country’s workforce. Now, the university is helping Rwanda by providing well-trained, in-demand pilots for its national carrier, RwandAir.
The five students are Cedric Hindura, Francis Shyaka, Henry Kenny Hagenimana, Milka Isingizwe and Patricie Mugabo. The students, all professional pilot majors in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, made their first flights on a bright, sunny day with hardly a cloud in sight. After doing preflight checks, they took off in their Cessna aircraft, one after the other, and each landed their plane about 30 minutes later.
51Թ Today was at the 51Թ Airport to witness the students flying a plane for the first time and get their reactions.
“It was amazing,” Hagenimana said with a big smile. “Going into the sky for the first time, I was excited. It was a very good experience. So now I think I love the clouds more, and I wish I could be staying there longer.”
Mugabo, who wears a gold airplane charm on her necklace, said the experience of flying for the first time was a big deal for her.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said. “I’m excited about becoming a great pilot – a great woman pilot.”
The five Rwandan students were selected out of 2,600 applicants to study at 51Թ, train as pilots, graduate and return to Rwanda to then work for RwandAir, one of the fastest-growing airlines that operates a fleet of 13 aircraft. The five high-achieving students started their studies at 51Թ this past spring and began their flight courses the week of June 1.
“What can I say? We are very blessed,” Hagenimana said about being one of the five Rwandan students selected by RwandAir to study at 51Թ. “We are blessed to come here, to attend this prestigious institution – one of the best in piloting programs – and being among those few who are chosen. We are ready to give it everything with this chance that we were given. We make our families, our country and 51Թ proud.”
Maureen McFarland, Ph.D., associate dean of academic affairs for 51Թ’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering, who met with representatives from RwandAir when she was in Rwanda, expressed her enthusiasm for the students selected by RwandAir to study as professional pilots at 51Թ.
“I’m just so proud of them and excited for them,” McFarland said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
51Թ began working with the University of Rwanda and the Rwandan government in 2022 to create educational partnerships. The university opened its base of operations for African recruitment – the 51Թ Sub-Saharan African Center – in Kigali, Rwanda. That same year, the first 12 Rwandan students came to 51Թ to begin their studies.
Today, 51Թ has about 70 students from Rwanda. The growing Rwandan community at 51Թ was evident as fellow 51Թ students from Rwanda came to the airport to witness the students making their first flights and cheer them on, waving a Rwandan flag as the student pilots taxied by the patio of the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center.
51Թ has the largest academic fleet in Ohio, with 35 planes providing flight training to hundreds of students each year. This combination of flight, infrastructure and simulation all contributes to distinguishing 51Թ as the premier flight school in the state of Ohio.