Most of them started further down the corridor.

Joined the Kenya Air Force as a cadet in 1970 and got his wings in 1971, after officer training at Lanet and a course with the RAF at Henlow. Flew Chipmunks, Beavers and Caribous, then tourists to the game lodges from Mombasa, then the Fokker Friendship, DC-9, Boeing 707 and Airbus for East African Airways and Kenya Airways. Founded Aircraft Leasing Services and moved it from piston aircraft to Beech 1900s, Caravans, King Airs and Dash 8s flying relief contracts.

Ran workshops, then his own business importing rally and aircraft parts, then trained in Japan with Subaru’s motorsport group and managed the Subaru team at the World Rally Championship in Kenya. Director and General Manager of Aircraft Leasing Services from its formation; Technical Director since 1999. Type courses on the Beech 1900, King Air and Cessna 208; FAA aircraft mechanic licence. Still rallies: Classic Cars Cup winner in 2003, 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Sales at Kingsway Motors from 1996 to 2003, rising to Sales Manager. Took his private pilot licence in 2004 and joined ALS’s operations department the same year. As CEO he has added aircraft, won contracts while clients were cutting budgets, and seen ALS through its financial and management audits. MBA (Entrepreneurship), University of Liverpool.

BSc in Applied Accounting, Fellow of the ACCA. Senior auditor at Ernst & Young and chief accountant at Phoenix Aviation before joining ALS as Commercial Manager; promoted to Commercial Director after eighteen months.

BSc in Aeronautical Science with a minor in aviation safety from Embry-Riddle, Arizona. Apprentice engineer at ALS in 1999–2000, then a pilot on the 1900, Dash 8 and Embraer for more than 16 years, and Chief Pilot from 2012 to 2014. KCAA designated check pilot, simulator instructor and examiner on the 1900 and Embraer, and instrument rating examiner.

Over 6,000 hours on the ERJ-135/145, Dash 8-100/200/300, Beechcraft 1900 and Cessna 208. Designated check pilot and simulator instructor, examining on the 1900 and Dash 8. Worked on ALS’s IOSA certification and operations manuals; runs daily scheduling, routing and aircraft allocation.

Flying professionally since 1996, with Kenyan and US ATPLs and over 12,000 hours. Line and training captain on the Embraer 135/145; simulator instructor and examiner on the Beechcraft 1900. Type-rated on the Boeing 737, MD-80, DC-9, Fokker F28, Citation Sovereign, Dash 7 and King Air 300.

Head of Finance and, before that, Head of Internal Audit and Risk at the Kenya Institute of Management. Earlier: group head of internal audit at Rift Valley Railways, and roles at James Finlay, Heritage Hotels, Deloitte and East African Breweries. BCom (Accounting), University of Nairobi; CPA(K).

Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering; licensed on airframes and powerplants; Executive MBA (aviation). Formerly a licensed engineer on the DC-9 and Fokker 28 at East African Safari Air Express. Certified on the 1900, Dash 8 and Embraer 135/145.

Sixteen years flying for ALS, on the Beech 1900, King Air 300 and 200, Cessna 402 and Cessna 182. Head of Safety since 2003, project manager for ALS’s IOSA certification and renewals, and simulator instructor on the 1900. IATA SMS Implementation Professional and IOSA auditor.

Joined ALS as a stores clerk, became stores supervisor three years later, then Procurement Manager. BSc in IT; MBA in strategic management.

More than 20 years in human resources, in consumer goods, consulting and now aviation. Degree in HR from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa; higher diploma from IHRM Kenya. Runs recruitment, workforce planning, pay, training and employee relations.