17 Jun 2025

In a sky once dominated almost entirely by men, two trailblazing women are rewriting the narrative one flight at a time.

Captains, Tshepiso Tsayang and Changu Tapela have officially joined the elite ranks of the country’s commercial aviation captains, earning their coveted four bars at Air Botswana, the nation’s flagship carrier.

Their elevation to captaincy marks not only a personal triumph, but also a historic milestone for gender representation in one of the world’s most demanding professions.

The duo now joins the pantheon of pioneering women aviators in Botswana, standing tall alongside Captain Sakhile Nyoni-Reiling, the country’s first female captain, and veterans like Captains Masego Mokgolela and Maipelo Kelotlegile.

Their stories started in 2011 when two determined young women fresh from completing their Commercial Pilot’s Licenses at South Africa’s renowned 43 Air School were supported by the government sponsorship programme.

Later, they arrived at Air Botswana as interns, wide-eyed and ready to learn.

Today, they wear their captain’s stripes with pride and earned authority.

“I transitioned to a flying role in 2012,” said Captain Changu Tapela, who began as a Second Officer and moved swiftly to First Officer status that same year, flying the ATR42/72-500.
From a young age, she said, aviation was not just a fascination but it was a calling.

“Flying for my country’s national airline remains the highest honour,” Tapela said.

By 2018, she had achieved her Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), the highest civilian certification in aviation and soon after earned a type rating on the Embraer 170, an aircraft now central to Air Botswana’s modern fleet. With experience across the ATR-500, ATR-600, and Embraer E170, Tapela has logged an impressive 6 000-flight hours to date.

“The journey was not easy. Captaincy demands everything time, energy, sacrifice but every flight is a chance to grow, learn and inspire,” she said.

Captain Tsayang’s rise followed a similarly remarkable path.

She earned her ATPL in the United States in 2018, before becoming part of the first cohort at Air Botswana to train on the Embraer 170 regional jet. A year later, she underwent simulator training in Jordan, cementing her readiness for jet operations.

“In 2025, I completed my captaincy training on the ATR 600 series in Bangkok,” she said.

“It was the beginning of a new chapter and now I am proudly flying the ATR 600.”
With 5 600-flight hours, Captain Tsayang’s said balancing the high-stakes world of aviation with the responsibilities of motherhood demanded unwavering discipline.

“There are family milestones missed, long night’s away, difficult decisions but every step was worth it and I am especially proud to show my children that with hard work and courage, anything is possible,” she said.

Her love for flight began at home inspired by her father, who worked in aviation. Her natural love for physics and problem solving only deepened the desire.

“My parents always told us to pursue what we are passionate about and that support made all the difference,” she noted.

Both captains were quick to credit Air Botswana for its support throughout their careers from simulator training and technical refreshers to structured opportunities for advancement.

“As pilots, we are constantly challenged to remain sharp, current, and confident,” said Captain Tapela.

Beyond the personal triumph, the new captains see their achievement as a message to the young women of Botswana.

“I want every young girl to know that your dreams are valid. Your gender, your background, none of that should limit what you believe you can do,” she said. ENDS