Virginia Kerubo on Tuesday, March 29, revealed that she ditched a promising career in the construction industry to become an air traffic controller.
Speaking on Mwanamke Bomba, Kerubo explained that she quit her job as a quantity surveyor to follow her childhood passion for airplanes.
A graduate of the University of Nairobi, she barely practiced her skill for five years and jumped onto an opportunity that ushered her into the aviation industry.
"In 2017, I saw an advert by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) calling for applications for their graduate training program and I applied," Kerubo stated.
She underwent training for one and a half years and emerged top of her class and by 2018, she became a certified flight instructor.
From the flight control towers, Kerubo admitted that the job posed a new challenge as it required a lot of attention and quick thinking since she was entrusted with the lives of many.
Notably, she broke down what her role as an air traffic controller entailed, giving a chronology of events when she reports to work.
"I give clearance and instructions to the pilot on which coordinates to follow depending on the routes and destinations they take.
"I start by inspecting the runway condition and filing a report. I then head to the tower and ensure all instruments are fully functional and start giving permits to pilots who want to tax on the runway," Kerubo disclosed.
The flight enthusiast admitted to having good and bad days while on duty. Her best day was when she gave instructions to the plane that ferried marathoner Eliud Kipchoge to Austria to set the sub-2 hours record.
"I was on duty and we facilitated the departure of the plane and while at it, we wished him good luck. Kipchoge went on to break the record and I believe I played a small part in it," Kerubo stated.
On the flip side, one of the planes she cleared to take off from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) developed mechanical failure and was forced to land shortly after.
