Precious Sibalo’s journey from waitress and flight attendant to commercial airline pilot is truly inspiring.
Despite facing early challenges as a young mother and dealing with the loss of her own mother, she remained determined to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot.
Her passion for aviation was ignited during a school trip where she saw pilots at an airport, and the absence of female pilots only fueled her determination further to break into the male-dominated field.
After working various jobs to support herself and her family, including stints as a waitress and part-time model in South Africa and Dubai, Precious seized an opportunity to join Qatar Airways as a cabin crew member.
It was during her time there that she decided to pursue her long-held dream of becoming a pilot.
In 2017, she took the courageous step of starting her pilot studies, demonstrating her commitment to her goal.
Her hard work and dedication paid off when she obtained her Airline Transport Pilot License from 43 Air School in South Africa in 2022.
“You cannot expect to climb the ladder with your hands in the pockets,” she told the Voice of America in 2021. “You need to work hard. You need to put (in) effort, do your research.”
Now, as she continues to build flight hours in South Africa, Precious is eager to return to Qatar Airways, this time as a pilot for their largest aircraft.
She hopes to find steady work among the small but growing ranks of women who are commercial pilots. In 2009, women accounted for 73 out of 1,036 (7%) pilots for six South African-owned airlines operating domestic and regional routes, according to the Airlines Association of Southern Africa. By 2019, they made up 120 of 1,201 pilots (10%).
Precious Sibalo’s story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and following one’s dreams, no matter the obstacles faced along the way.
