FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
JANUARY 1, 2026

Final Approach: Proflight Zambia Honours Captain Gerald ‘GT’ Tembo’s 43 Years in Aviation 

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Zambia’s leading scheduled airline paid tribute to Captain Gerald Tembo, fondly known as Captain GT, as he completed his last commercial flight before retirement, bringing to a close a distinguished 43-year aviation career and more than 24,500 hours in the skies.

Captain GT’s final flight touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on 11 December 2025, a day before his birthday, where he was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute, a fitting farewell for an aviator whose service shaped both the airline and Zambia’s aviation industry. The moment marked his official retirement upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

He was later met with a heartfelt surprise send-off at the airline’s hangars attended by Proflight Zambia staff from across departments. The gathering reflected the deep respect and affection he had earned not only as a pilot, but as a mentor, leader, and colleague whose influence extended far beyond the cockpit.

Over the years, Captain GT flew six of Zambia’s seven Presidents, earning distinction as one of the country’s longest-serving presidential pilots. He joined Proflight Zambia in 2012, where he rose through the ranks to serve as Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations, before dedicating his later years to training and mentoring younger pilots.

“This moment in this career is something you never fully prepare for,” Captain GT reflected. “You think retirement is still far away, until one day it is suddenly here. It has been a great journey, and one I look back on with gratitude.”

He traced his aviation journey back to 1982, when he began flight training at the Zambia Air Services Training Institute (ZASTI) and later became an instructor there prior to leaving the institution. Among his earliest defining moments was his first VIP flight assignment, carrying then Minister of Education Mr Rajah Kunda, MP, to Kitwe, an experience he recalls with humility and pride:

“That flight opened the door to many others,” he said. “It remains an honour and privilege that no one can take away from me.”

Proflight Zambia Director of Flight Operations, Captain Josias Walubita, described Captain GT as a unifying figure across the airline.

“GT is a father to many of us in aviation,” Captain Walubita said. “He believes in everyone around him and gives of his knowledge freely. He has moulded pilots, engineers, and teams across departments. As Proflight, we celebrate the man, the myth, and the legend, and it is now our responsibility to carry the baton he has passed on.”

Veteran Proflight aviator, Captain Preller Kopolo, has often emphasised that discipline is what takes a pilot to the pinnacle of the profession, a quality he said Captain GT consistently embodied throughout his career.

Captain GT’s final flight marked more than the end of an incredible personal journey. It symbolised the passing on of wisdom, values, and a standard of excellence that continues to guide Proflight Zambia and the wider aviation community.

“We thank Captain Gerald ‘GT’ Tembo for his service, his leadership, and the light he has brought to aviation in Zambia,” Proflight Zambia said. “His legacy will continue to inspire long after his final landing.”
 
-Ends-


About Proflight Zambia
Proflight Zambia, established in 2005, is Zambia’s leading scheduled airline. Operating from its base in Lusaka its domestic routes include Kalumbila, Kasama, Livingstone, Mansa, Mfuwe, Ndola, and Solwezi, with seasonal safari routes to Jeki/Royal airstrips in Lower Zambezi National Park. The airline’s regional flights include South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, operating between Lusaka and Johannesburg, Lusaka and Cape Town (via Livingstone), Livingstone and Cape Town direct, Lusaka and Windhoek (via Livingstone), Livingstone and Windhoek direct, Lusaka and Maun (via Livingstone), and Livingstone and Maun direct.
The airline prides itself in providing a safe, reliable, efficient, and friendly service, and offering good value to business and leisure travellers locally and internationally.
The airline operates five 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, one Bombardier CRJ-100 parcel freighter jet, and five 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprop aircraft.
More information is available at www.flyzambia.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Gillian Langmead at Langmead & Baker Ltd;
+260 979 060705;
info@langmead.com