Sónia de Almeida – A pilot on the ground

In 2008, in Seattle, United States of America, in training, she saw snow for the first time, felt the earth shaking, but kept one certainty in her heart: to become a flight operations dispatcher until the end of the trip.

Sónia de Almeida has been with Mozambican Airlines (LAM) for 32 years. She could have tried new flights, but it is at this institution that she trained as an operations dispatcher and, due to her role, several aircraft arrive at their destination without mishap.

She knows the work she does even with her eyes closed. However, experience has shown that nothing is memorized, everything is reviewed. Therefore, she examines, re-examines, verifies and re-checks, all conditions necessary to assist flight routes, from aircraft performance and loading, en-route wind, weather forecasts, turbulence, airspace restrictions and airport conditions. She works closely with the pilot, monitors flights, is always on the lookout, to let them know if conditions change.

Sónia does not believe in formulas, but she is aware that dedication is the way to become an exemplary professional. She recalls that, in 1989, when she started the training that would open the doors to LAM, she knew little or nothing about flight operations, but, with dedication, curiosity and willingness to learn, she broadened her knowledge and can no longer imagine doing anything else in life.

Throughout her career, she had the opportunity to broaden her knowledge in the field of aviation and travel, both on business and personally. “I was able to learn a lot and exchange experiences at a professional level with people from other countries, not only from airlines, but also from other branches of aviation”, she highlighted.

Sónia does not believe in formulas, but she is aware that dedication is the way to become an exemplary professional.

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In the flag company, he reached the top of his career, cultivated friends, helped and still contributes to the formation of a new wave of professionals who will be relayed when the reform arrives.

“The memories will remain, they always accompany us”, he says, recalling one of the highest moments of his career. She was on the LAM 737-700 plane that took Pope Francis from Maputo to Madagascar. “Because Linhas Aéreas does not have regular connections to Antananarivo, the plane took a mechanic and I went to flight officer. During the trip, I had the privilege of being close and exchanging impressions with the Supreme Pontiff”, he details, indicating that he does not remember the words said, but “it was a moment full of emotion that I keep for life”, he concluded.

Issue 75 Sept/Oct | Download.