Susan Mashibe – The Story Of A Tanzanian Woman Entrepreneur With An Aviation Dream

by Duchess Magazine
33 comments

There are not too many young 4 year old girls in the world who have a dream of a career in aviation and go on to launch a unique and highly successful technical and logistics company to support private jets in Africa – but the inspirational Susan Mashibe is one of those few!

 Susan Mashibe, founder of Via Aviation, Tanzania

A pivotal moment in Susan Mashibe’s life happened when she was just four years old, standing at the airport in Kigoma in Tanzania, holding her grandmother’s hand and watching as her parent’s plane took off. It was a poignant moment and one that Susan remembers clearly: “As the plane carrying my family took off, I did not cry. Rather, I wished I could fly the aircraft myself, so that my parents would not leave me behind ever again.”.

That key moment was to change her life forever and was to take her on a journey from her childhood in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, to studying at Western Michigan University and qualifying to eventually becoming Tanzania’s first female FAA-certified pilot and mechanic. However, that was not the end of the story, only the beginning of the next chapter to fulfilling her entrepreneurial destiny. In the summer of 2001, she had just received her pilot’s license and was applying at Delta Air Lines Inc. when the terrible events of September 11th were to change the world, and aviation in particular. At that point, Susan abandoned her efforts to get a U.S. work permit and returned to Tanzania to build her aviation career in her home country.

When Susan was four years old, she remembers watching her parents take off in an airplane while she was left behind with her grandmother. “At that point, I decided if I knew how to fly, I would never be left behind again.”

 
It proved to be a life-changing move and today, Susan owns and operates VIA Aviation, a highly successful and unique aviation company founded in 2003, and specialising in providing world-class private jet handling and hangar services. Today, the company provides a wide range of aircraft handling, clearances and ground support, security and fuel in Dar es Salaam. Via Aviation generates revenue of over $2 million, and Susan has plans to expand the business to more than 20 countries throughout Africa. At Kilimanjaro International Airport, the company already has 80,000 square feet of hangar space. Susan’s client list is able to boast Heads of State, monarchs, global corporate executives, and the military. The company is also now a multi-million dollar aviation business and highly regarded around the world. She has achieved all of this in an emerging and largely male-dominated industry in Africa, and her success is a testimony to the power of education, economic empowerment, and self belief. One of the key’s to Susan’s entrepreneurial success in life – she says she has no fear! Simply a deeply-held and long-standing passion for aircraft.
Susan Mashibe 4.jpg

In 2002, Susan used all her savings to rent a small office in the Dar es Salaam airport to start her company, TanJet,  which provided technical and logistical support to visiting private jets throughout Africa.  Her first client was Jacob Zuma, currently president of South Africa, who was on a  visit to Tanzania.

Not only is Susan Mashibe an amazing example of a women entrepreneur making great strides in breaking into the global aviation industry, but she is also inspiring and encouraging a new generation of women aviation across Africa and beyond.

Related Posts

33 comments

Billige Nike Air Max thea grå March 7, 2016 - 7:25 am

Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognise what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally seek advice from my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!
Billige Nike Air Max thea grå http://www.dem-dk.dk/nikemax.asp?p=Billige-Nike-Air-Max-thea-gra

Reply
fuck for money March 7, 2016 - 1:11 pm

Enjoyed every bit of your article. Great.

Reply
Nike Air Max 90 Dame tilbud March 9, 2016 - 3:58 am

Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and internet and this is really annoying. A good blog with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.

Reply
louboutin outlet sverige March 9, 2016 - 4:00 am

I have learn a few just right stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you set to make this type of wonderful informative website.

Reply
ナイキ 大きいサイズ メンズ March 9, 2016 - 4:02 am

Wow! Thank you! I permanently wanted to write on my website something like that. Can I include a portion of your post to my site?

Reply
Calvin Klein Tienda March 9, 2016 - 4:03 am

You could definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

Reply
ナイキ スニーカー レディース ネイビー March 9, 2016 - 4:11 am

Thank you for your whole effort on this web page. My mother enjoys conducting investigations and it’s really easy to see why. All of us learn all regarding the powerful medium you produce very useful guidelines by means of your web blog and therefore boost response from other ones on this issue while my daughter is truly discovering so much. Enjoy the remaining portion of the new year. You are always performing a dazzling job.

Reply
ナイキ ニューバランス March 9, 2016 - 4:13 am

There is perceptibly a lot to identify about this. I believe you made some nice points in features also.

Reply
cheap pink air max 95 March 9, 2016 - 4:17 am

Wow, awesome weblog layout! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you make blogging look easy. The full look of your site is wonderful, as smartly as the content!

Reply
Nike Outlet Air Max March 9, 2016 - 4:19 am

Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a portion of your post to my blog?

Reply
ナイキ コルテッツ abc March 9, 2016 - 11:29 am

I am continuously browsing online for ideas that can assist me. Thanks!

Reply
cheap adidas red samba March 9, 2016 - 11:30 am

Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

Reply
Billige Nike Free flyknit 4.0 herre March 9, 2016 - 11:30 am

Hello to every body, it’s my first go to see of this weblog; this blog contains remarkable and truly fine information for visitors.

Reply
cheap adidas originals clothing March 9, 2016 - 11:30 am

Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I抣l certainly comeback.

Reply
nike store a paris March 9, 2016 - 11:31 am

Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

Reply
nike air max on sale March 9, 2016 - 11:33 am

I was just looking for this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Normally the top websites are full of garbage.

Reply
Nike Air Max Classic March 10, 2016 - 11:04 am

I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am satisfied to exhibit that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I such a lot surely will make sure to donˇt forget this site and provides it a look regularly.

Reply
cheap womens adidas sneakers March 10, 2016 - 11:07 am

My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was entirely right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

Reply
Zapatillas Salomon Baratas Online March 10, 2016 - 11:09 am

Peculiar article, exactly what I needed.

Reply
ナイキ スニーカー ワッフル March 10, 2016 - 11:16 am

Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.

Reply
chaussures air jordan soldes March 12, 2016 - 10:04 am

Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular submit incredible. Great job!

Reply
birkenstock harrison March 12, 2016 - 10:05 am

Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossips and net and this is really annoying. A good site with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for keeping this web-site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.

Reply
Duchess International Magazine Duchess International Magazine March 14, 2016 - 9:58 am

yes we do, you can subcribe to how newsletter at the home page. we appreciate you

Reply
Calzoncillos Calvin Klein Niños March 12, 2016 - 1:46 pm

You made several fine points there. I did a search on the issue and found a good number of persons will go along with with your blog.

Reply
ナイキ エアマックス 90 プレミアム March 13, 2016 - 9:12 am

Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your website by chance, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not came about earlier! I bookmarked it.

Reply
Comprar Air Max 90 Online March 13, 2016 - 9:17 am

Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

Reply
cheap adidas formal shoes March 13, 2016 - 9:49 am

Good write-up, Iˇm regular visitor of oneˇs site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.

Reply
Nike Air Max 97 hyperfuse gym red March 14, 2016 - 8:29 am

My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

Reply
mtb skor rea March 14, 2016 - 10:23 am

My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

Reply
ralf lauren pike March 15, 2016 - 6:06 am

I have been surfing online more than three hours lately, but I never discovered any fascinating article like yours. It is lovely worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made just right content material as you probably did, the web will be much more helpful than ever before.

Reply
nike air max rea barn March 16, 2016 - 6:50 am

I have been examinating out many of your articles and i can state pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.

Reply
Billige Nike Air Max til kvinder March 16, 2016 - 8:37 am

Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .

Reply
nike air jordan noir et rouge March 16, 2016 - 8:39 am

Your mode of explaining all in this paragraph is actually good, every one be capable of effortlessly understand it, Thanks a lot.

Reply

Leave a Comment

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy
WeCreativez WhatsApp Support
Our support team is here to answer your questions. Ask us anything!
? Hi, how can we help?