BY ALEX DADAMU
FLYING an airplane has always been intriguing for Hosley Gela, right since his childhood, and despite his father’s persistence for him to become a medical practitioner, he chose to become a pilot instead.
Hosley Gela, 31, part Central Guadalcanal and Malaita is currently Solomon Airlines ‘First Officer’ a position formerly known as a ‘Co-Pilot’ in the cockpit. He is also a qualified Aircraft Engineer before becoming a First Officer at the Solomon Islands National Airline Carrier just last year, 2021.
Hosley grew up in a home where his parents are both medical practitioners and they have always wanted him to become like them in the future, however, Hosley revealed that he have decided right from a very young age that when he grew up, he wanted to be a pilot.
“My greatest inspiration is my uncle, George Satu (Mother’s cousin) who was a captain (Pilot) at that time.
“We stayed at Atoifi in Malaita Province, when I was little, the main mode of transport was by aeroplane. It is usually my uncle who always piloted the aeroplane when we travel from Malaita to Honiara or vice versa.
“From a young age, I admire him and wanted to be like him when I grew up. He has also helped me a lot in school and that is when the motivation to become a pilot started and grew,” Hosley said.
He started Primary School Education in Malaita Province and then moved to Kukum Seveth Day Adventist (SDA) School in Honiara to complete grades three to six.
“Then I went on to do my Secondary School Education at Betikama Adventist High School doing my Form one right up to form seven. After that, I went over to Fiji to study flight training for about three years,” Hosley told Sunday Isles.
He also pointed out that during his time at Betikama, he was further motivated by the fact that he saw and hear airplanes land and took off every day at Henderson Airfield.
“It kind of motivates me to study hard to become a pilot,” Hosley said.
After graduating as a pilot, due to a lack of opportunities, Hosley went on to study and graduated with a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Mechanical) at Fiji National University in Fiji.
Hosley returns home to the Solomon Islands and despite wanting to work as a pilot and fly airplanes, he has to wait for an opportunity in the field he works for two years as an Aircraft Engineer at Solomon Airlines.
It was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year when a few ex-pat pilots were laid-off when Hosley was presented with the opportunity he was waiting for – he jumped at it and started as a First Officer untill now.
Hosley said there were many words of encouragement to motivate youths who might want to follow in his footsteps However, a quote that kept ringing in his head was, “In life, you are either a passenger or a pilot, the choice is yours.
“Many times as students or as a youth, we wait for things to happen in our favor but if you want to be what you want to be in the future, a Medical Doctor, Pilot, etc… put work and effort into it. Have attitude and professionalism and direct your own life towards what you want to achieve. Build yourself towards achieving your dream job,” Hosley Gela said.
