When Passion Meets Altitude: Tanzanian Student Pilot Kushaan Meets Aviation Icon Sam Chui
On August 24th, 2024, student pilot Kushaan met aviation legend Sam Chui at Arusha Airport. Sam shared how his passion for flying began with plane spotting and a love for the 747.
Atuweni Chalera
8/26/20241 min read
On August 24th, 2024, at Arusha Airport, Tanzanian student pilot Kushaan had the unforgettable opportunity to meet none other than Sam Chui, one of the world’s most celebrated aviation content creators.
As the two stood near the runway, with aircraft humming in the background and Mount Meru in view, Kushaan asked a question that resonates with aspiring aviators around the world:
“How did you discover your passion for aviation?”
Sam smiled, reflecting on his journey:
“It started with plane spotting. I was just a backseat passenger who loved to fly. I kept getting chances to fly, and at the time, the 747 was the main airliner. I’d only ever see it, but I fell in love with it—that’s what ignited the spark.”
But that spark quickly grew into a lifelong calling:
“The passion just grows and grows—it never stops. The more I flew, the more I traveled, the deeper I fell in love with it. It became a lifestyle. It’s a feeling you can’t describe until you learn how to fly. When you’re in the air, all your troubles disappear, and your mind clears. You just love to aviate.”
Kushaan then asked a follow-up question for AK Aviation’s audience:
“What would you say to our viewers about your flight here in Tanzania?”
Sam replied with genuine excitement:
“It was amazing—I did a Kilimanjaro sightseeing flight. I captured it all and posted the video on YouTube weeks later. What stood out was how free it felt. In many other parts of the world, there are layers of airspace restrictions, but in Africa, you feel that openness. It’s a perfect place to be a bush pilot or to learn how to fly. You get to build real fundamentals.”
He closed with a simple truth every pilot knows:
“Every flight teaches you something new. More experience, more hours, and a stronger passion for aviation.”
This inspiring conversation between a young Tanzanian pilot and a global aviation figure is a powerful reminder that passion, once sparked, can truly take you to the skies—and beyond.
