Loganair engineer defies odds and hopes to inspire young women to follow in her footsteps
A female engineer with the UK’s largest regional airline, Loganair, has spoken of her pride at flying the flag for women in what continues to be a male-dominated part of the industry.
Technical services engineer Margaret “Maggie” Timanoi Kumari says the sky is the limit for her ambitions and believes no one’s dreams should be grounded - especially not by the stereotypes of the industry they work in.
Born in Kenya and now based in Paisley, the 28-year-old grew up in Narok, home to the Maasai Mara, one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa. She started her campaign against the status-quo as a youngster when she challenged established traditions for young women and girls in the Narok county by going to an all-girls school elsewhere in Kenya. AIC girls primary in Kajiado and Alliance Girls High School.
With an ambition to complete a degree in engineering, Maggie started her diploma at The Kenya Aeronautical College (KAC) Wilson Airport Campus, Kenya. After one year at KAC, Maggie moved to Scotland to complete her degree where she enrolled at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Perth College for four years.
Throughout her studies at Wilson Airport and in Scotland, Maggie was the only female in her class and graduated in 2019 with BEng (Hons) Aircraft Engineering and Air Transport Operations.
Maggie first started her career with Loganair as a student in 2017, working in the hanger at Glasgow Airport as a trainee mechanic. Amidst her studies, Maggie returned to Loganair in the summer of 2018 as a part-time trainee engineer based at Loganair HQ in Paisley before being awarded a full-time contract in June 2019.
Today, as a technical services engineer, Maggie is part of a team responsible for the reliability of Loganair’s wide-ranging aircraft fleet, ensuring all technical standards are met and, put simply, air-worthy.
“Working for Loganair as an engineer offers a unique experience, particularly with the diverse fleet, and is not without its challenges,” explained Maggie.
“We have set tasks and projects each month to review the performance of different aircraft within the fleet and identify areas that need improvements, but sometimes the day can be unpredictable. We are there to support the team with aircraft on the ground, so we might need to investigate a live issue and identify a solution quickly and efficiently.”
“Loganair has become a home away from home for me. The people I work with are fantastic and the operations are fascinating. For someone like me, in the early stages of my career, there are so many opportunities to learn, which I grab with both hands.
“After studying in an all-male class throughout my entire engineering degree, it is really encouraging to work alongside a growing group of inspiring females at Loganair.”
The theme of this year’s International Women in Engineering Day is Make Safety Seen, which Maggie recognises in her role daily.
“Aviation without safety would be disastrous” added Maggie. “This is why a role in engineering is so important and rewarding. Aviation is dynamic and you need to be very detail orientated, but I love what I do.
“It is fulfilling to practice what you have studied and implement that into a career. I am trying to soak up as many experiences and lessons as possible during my time with Loganair.
“For any young person considering a career in engineering or aviation, or maybe you’re not sure but you love maths, then I’d encourage you to follow in my footsteps. Challenge stereotypes, don’t limit yourself or settle and please embrace the possibilities.”
Last year, Loganair launched its Flying’s For All strategy and has since made a significant investment in its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training course, which will reach every single member of staff, regardless of their role. The Flying’s For All initiative has three main objectives: to encourage wider opportunities for female members of the team throughout the airline; to recognise and support LGBTQIA+ members of the Loganair community – whether employees, customers or suppliers; and to support employees’ mental health through a broad range of initiatives.
