Few careers take you around the world. Fewer still, keep you there for 45 years. But that’s been Captain Manoj Mavadia’s reality—a life spent above the clouds, with 39 of those years at Kenya Airways, witnessing its takeoffs, landings, and everything in between.
It’s a warm Tuesday morning when we meet Captain Mavadia at the Kenya Airways head office in Nairobi. Dressed sharply in his pilot’s uniform, he is disarmingly easygoing—smiling, laughing, and quick to share stories of his longest journeys, most memorable moments, and the emergencies that tested his skill.
Forty-five years in, does that make you a master of the skies? I ask.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “The day you say you’ve mastered it all is the day trouble starts,” he says. “There’s always something new. You never stop learning in this job. The moment you think you know it all—you’ve already made your biggest mistake.”
So, how did you get here. What inspired you to be a pilot?
Unlike the typical career inspiration story, in my case I didn’t know anyone who was a pilot. It was just something in me; I loved looking at airplanes in the sky. I would build model airplanes and fly them. It was always a dream of mine.
What did you study?
In high school, I studied Physics, Mathematics, Geography, and of course, English among the compulsory subjects. After that, I started my flying career. I got my Private Pilot’s License (PPL) in Kenya and then went to the US for my Commercial Pilot’s License. When I returned to Kenya, I converted my American license to a Kenyan one. In total, I studied for four and a half years.
Captain Manoj Mavadia during an interview at the Kenya Airways Head Office in Nairobi on July 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
What about your undergraduate studies?
No, I only completed my O-levels. However, having a degree is beneficial in today’s world, especially one related to aviation.
How did it feel to take control of an aircraft for the first time?
My first flight was during my PPL training, which lasted about 40 minutes. Taking control of the airplane is a bit scary at first, but you eventually get used to it.
Which aircraft did you train on, and how does it compare to modern planes?
We trained on a Tomahawk, a simple aircraft with basic flying instruments. It provided the fundamentals of flying, navigation skills, and manual flying experience. Now, I fly a Boeing 787, also known as the Dreamliner. Technology moves quickly; just the other day, phones had buttons, and now it's all screens.
How many years did you serve as a co-pilot, and is it mandatory to have one in the cockpit?
Yes, an aircraft must have two people: a captain and a co-pilot. A co-pilot is trained to the same level as a captain but generally has less experience. It took me about 12 years to become a captain.
Typically, it takes around 10 years, but it can vary depending on the company’s progression. In the early years of my career, there were limited slots for captain positions, so you had to wait for someone to leave or resign before moving up. A captain makes all the decisions but also takes advice from the co-pilot.
What are some of the biggest milestones in your aviation career?
(Long pause) It’s been a fulfilling career, and many of my former co-pilots are now captains.
Wow. How many of them?
Quite a few! I can’t give a specific number, but as the most senior captain here, many of them have been my co-pilots.
I know some flights can be long. How do you stay physically and mentally fit for flying, especially at your age?
For physical fitness, I try to walk and swim for about 20 to 30 minutes whenever I have free time. I also walk a lot when I’m stationed away; I don’t rely on taxis.
At my age, you can’t just hit the gym and lift weights; you need to focus on moderate exercise. The main factor for my mental health is having my family’s support.
Have you ever had to handle an emergency mid-flight? If so, what happened and how did you manage it?
Yes, years ago, I was flying a 707 when we experienced a hydraulic leak shortly after taking off from Mumbai to Nairobi—around 30 minutes into the flight. We followed the emergency checklist and decided to continue to Nairobi.
One of the procedures required us to manually extend the landing gear. We faced some challenges with it initially, but ultimately, it worked. Some procedures necessitate urgent action like landing at the nearest airport, but this incident was not significant enough to divert.
Captain Manoj Mavadia during an interview at the Kenya Airways Head Office in Nairobi on July 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Interesting. So, what has been the biggest challenge you've faced as a pilot?
I think the biggest challenge is being mentally prepared. For instance, I can be away from my family for 10 to 15 days in a month, so there has to be a lot of understanding from both sides.
Is there a particular flight or mission that stands out?
Yes, I flew a special mission from Amsterdam to Nairobi for the Born Free Foundation which was transporting a lion back to Kenya. That was a significant achievement for me because Kenya Airways supports both the foundation and wildlife conservation.
What advice would you give an upcoming pilot?
It’s a career that requires a lot of dedication. It’s not something you can just start and think you’re done. You’ll be studying continuously throughout your career. For proficiency, you need to keep up with training standards and checks every six months.
There are also other exams related to the aviation industry, such as flying dangerous goods and crew resource management, which you take yearly. It’s an ongoing process that continues throughout your career.
There’s a lot of discipline and hard work required. It's not the glamour of being a pilot.
