Melvyn Likongwe - Chief Pilot

Q: Where is Melvyn based?

Melvyn is based in Blantyre, Malawi and prefers 100% remote projects.

Q: What languages does Melvyn speak?

Melvyn speaks the following languages: Chewa (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Melvyn have?

Melvyn has at least 5 years of experience. During this time, Melvyn has worked in at least 3 different roles and for 4 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 2 months . Note that Melvyn may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Melvyn's latest experience?

Melvyn's most recent position is Chief Pilot at Bring Me Hope Foundation .

Q: What companies has Melvyn worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Melvyn has worked for Bring Me Hope Foundation , Wingcopter GmbH , and Swoop Aero .

Q: Which industries is Melvyn most experienced in?

Melvyn is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Healthcare , and Transportation .

Q: Which business areas is Melvyn most experienced in?

Melvyn is most experienced in business areas like Operations , Logistics , and Strategy . Melvyn also has some experience in Product Development and Quality Assurance .

Q: What is Melvyn's education?

Melvyn holds a Master in Business Administration from East and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and a Bachelor in Business Administration & Commerce from Catholic University of Malawi .

Q: Does Melvyn have any certificates?

Melvyn has 5 certificates . Among them, these include: CAT-10 Dangerous Goods Certification , Certificate In Drone And Data Technology , and Radio Telephony License .

Recommended expert

Blantyre, Malawi

Check rate

Experience

Apr 2024 - Oct 2025

1 year 7 months

Blantyre, Malawi

Chief Pilot

Bring Me Hope Foundation

Conducted maintenance activities and airspace coordination for flight testing operations.
Oversaw a fleet of Titan and fixed-wing UAVs, ensuring operational readiness, flight safety, and compliance with Malawian aviation regulations.
Collaborated with leadership on mission design, operational planning, and expansion strategy for drone logistics within Malawi’s southern region.
Developed flight operation manuals, risk assessments, and performance reports to support data-driven decision-making.

Oct 2021 - Mar 2023

1 year 6 months

Kasungu, Malawi

Pilot & Aircraft Technician

Wingcopter GmbH

Operated and maintained Wingcopter drones for healthcare delivery across Kasungu, Ntchisi, and Salima districts.
Conducted pre- and post-flight checks, maintenance, and airspace coordination for BVLOS operations.
Contributed to scaling Malawi’s national drone network by improving operational reliability and team training.
Supported Wingcopter’s partnership projects with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF for medical logistics.

Jan 2021 - Sep 2021

9 months

Nsanje, Malawi

Pilot & Aircraft Technician

Swoop Aero

Executed aerial missions for medical supply transport to rural health centers in Nsanje and Chikwawa.
Assisted in network expansion, flight planning, and ground station setup.
Maintained strict compliance with DCA Malawi’s drone safety and radio communication standards.
Strengthened last-mile delivery reliability through optimized flight routes and mission planning.

Jan 2020 - Dec 2020

1 year

Kasungu, Malawi

Drone Specialist (Wildlife Surveillance & Conservation)

Swexan Technologies AB

Trained wildlife rangers on drone operation for anti-poaching and surveillance missions.
Supported conservation technology integration to monitor wildlife habitats and detect illegal activities.
Developed training materials and implemented protocols for efficient and ethical drone deployment.

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare, and Transportation.

Aerospace and Defense

Healthcare

Transportation

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Operations, Logistics, Strategy, Product Development, and Quality Assurance.

Operations

Logistics

Strategy

Product Development

Quality Assurance

Summary

Innovative and results-driven drone operations leader with a strong foundation in business administration, logistics, and aviation technology. Over five years of experience leading UAV operations for humanitarian logistics, coordinating nationwide drone programs with Swoop Aero, Wingcopter, and Bring Me Hope Foundation. Combines an MBA in Management with hands-on expertise in flight operations, safety, and drone maintenance to deliver measurable impact in medical logistics, environmental monitoring, and rural accessibility.

Skills

Drone Operations & Maintenance
Bvlos Coordination
Airspace Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Logistics & Supply Chain Planning
Project Management & Strategy
Data Collection & Reporting
Stakeholder Engagement
Training & Team Leadership
Aerial Logistics
Precision Agriculture
Humanitarian Technology
Unmanned Systems Management
Emerging Aviation Ecosystems

Languages

Nyanja

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Oct 2022 - Jun 2024

East and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI)

Master of Business Administration, Management · Business Administration · Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of

Oct 2015 - Jun 2019

Catholic University of Malawi

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Commerce · Business Administration & Commerce · Blantyre, Malawi

Certifications & licenses

CAT-10 Dangerous Goods Certification

Certificate In Drone And Data Technology

Radio Telephony License

Remote Pilot License

Department Of Civil Aviation Malawi

Trusted Operator Program (TOP) Level 1

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 4

Experience in Aerospace and Defense 4.5 y

Avg length 1 y 2 m

Longest experience 1 y 6 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Malawi)

Primary country Malawi

Expertise

Recent roles Chief Pilot, Pilot & Aircraft Technician, Drone Specialist (Wildlife Surveillance & Conservation)

Main industries Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare, Transportation

Main business areas Operations, Logistics, Strategy

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 5

Profile

Created

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

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Melvyn is based in Blantyre, Malawi and prefers 100% remote projects.

Melvyn speaks the following languages: Chewa (Native), English (Advanced).

Melvyn has at least 5 years of experience. During this time, Melvyn has worked in at least 3 different roles and for 4 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 2 months. Note that Melvyn may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Melvyn would be well-suited for roles such as: Chief Pilot, Pilot & Aircraft Technician, Drone Specialist (Wildlife Surveillance & Conservation).

Melvyn's most recent position is Chief Pilot at Bring Me Hope Foundation.

In recent years, Melvyn has worked for Bring Me Hope Foundation, Wingcopter GmbH, and Swoop Aero.

Melvyn is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Healthcare, and Transportation.

Melvyn is most experienced in business areas like Operations, Logistics, and Strategy. Melvyn also has some experience in Product Development and Quality Assurance.

Melvyn holds a Master in Business Administration from East and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) and a Bachelor in Business Administration & Commerce from Catholic University of Malawi.

Melvyn has 5 certificates. Among them, these include: CAT-10 Dangerous Goods Certification, Certificate In Drone And Data Technology, and Radio Telephony License.

Melvyn is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

Melvyn's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

To hire Melvyn, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.