PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Esmaralda Barnes loves aviation - it runs in her blood.
She first became interested in aviation through her father who was based at the then Pietersburg Air Force Base, now Polokwane.
"I love the smell of burning aircraft fuel and aircraft noise – the bigger the aircraft the more the goosebumps, especially when the engines are shut down," she admits smiling.
"Ever since starting my career . . . the safety on board that aircraft takes preference in my soul. And when it stops on the apron, I heave a sigh of relief that everything and everyone is safe," she says.
Now, after more than 32 years in the aviation industry, working for Acsa for most of her working life, she has come to Plett to manage the Plettenberg Bay Aerodrome on behalf of rsa.Aero, the designated operators of the airport.
As airport manager she is responsible for all ground operations - from passengers and staff, fire-fighting capabilities to safety and stakeholder relationships, the latter being her strength, she says.
Barnes was head-hunted by rsa.Aero to fill the manager's position in Plett. The awards she has under her belt attest to her ability.
She was the first woman airport manager in South Africa, appointed in 1996 for Gateway International Airport in Limpopo province. She later became the airport manager of Upington International Airport.
During the 10 years she held this position, she was named Northern Cape Person of the Year (in 2011), and subsequently Woman of the Year in Transport Operations by the Northern Cape Department of Transport.
Under her leadership the Upington International Airport participated in the Airports Council International (ACI) ASQ (Airport Services Quality) programme under the Acsa flag. Her team competed with 280 airports world-wide and this Northern Cape airport received the top award in its category (fewer than two million passengers) for six years in a row.
Another hat she wore while at Upington was that of customer care manager for the six regional airports for Acsa and she had to ensure that a programme of service excellence was rolled out in preparation of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. She then did a stint at Bram Fischer International Airport (Bloemfontein) and finally as chief operations officer of Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit), before joining rsa.Aero.
If anyone in the aviation industry had a query on any aspect of running an airport, the advice was: "Get hold of Esmaralda Barnes…" and she is often referred to by colleagues as "Ms Fixit".
She earned her stripes in the local industry, and even gained experience in air cargo transport in the UAE.
She decided to accept the job as airport manager in Plett partly because she would again work closely with her mentor in the industry, Deon Cloete, current managing director of the Cape Winelands Airport.
Coming to Plett is a new challenge for this grandmother of two, but she is looking forward to being close to the sea.
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