According to a statement sent to VerAngola, the Angolan pilot received a final grade of 18.
"His research work earned him an 18, the highest grade awarded throughout the course, positioning him as a promising young professional in the Angolan aviation sector," the statement reads.
Although he hopes to pursue a doctorate, Achanti Fernandes wants to return to Angola to promote and contribute to this sector.
"With his master's degree in hand, he is already preparing the scientific publication of his dissertation and expresses his desire to pursue a doctorate. However, it is in returning to Angola that he places his greatest hopes," the statement reads.
Quoted in the statement, the pilot says that returning to Angola is mandatory and that he intends to contribute to a "more modern, efficient, and sustainable aviation."
"Returning to Angola is an obligation. I want to apply international best practices and contribute to a more modern, efficient, and sustainable aviation. I believe that air transport is a strategic pillar for the economic development of my country," he said.
On his LinkedIn profile, he described the master's degree as a "challenging journey," full of learning and growth.
"It is with great pride and gratitude that I share the completion of my master's degree in Air Transport Operations, after two years and seven months of intense dedication. It was a challenging journey, full of learning and growth, culminating in a final grade of 18, the result of hours and days of scientific research," reads the publication, which VerAngola had access to.
For his dissertation, titled 'Airport Performance Assessment', "he used the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to examine the operational efficiency of European airports between 2019 and 2023—a period strongly marked by the pandemic disruption and the restructuring of international mobility."
In this research, the Angolan compared "pre and post-pandemic data, offering valuable insights for modern airport management and reinforcing the importance of performance indicators in times of crisis and recovery."
Maria Baltazar, the work's supervisor, highlighted the "technical solidity, scientific rigor, and analytical skills demonstrated by Achanti Fernandes, as well as his discipline, resilience, and dedication throughout his academic career."
Achanti Fernandes was born in Luanda in 1984 and holds a degree in Business Administration from the Lusíada University of Angola (ULA). "He is a certified pilot for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft (airplanes and helicopters), with approximately eight years of experience in the offshore sector in Angola," the statement states. It adds that "throughout his professional career, he has demonstrated a commitment to continuous qualification and the pursuit of efficiency at international standards of excellence, with the aim of contributing to the growth and modernization of aviation in the country."
