Etihad Airways celebrated Captain Aisha Al Mansoori who has become the UAE’s first female Emirati Captain in a commercial airline. This is a significant milestone for aviation within the UAE and part of Etihad’s efforts to expand the roles of women in aviation, in particular the pilot community. Aisha’s success will inspire many other Emirati and other girls to aspire big in life (“Aisha Al Mansoori becomes UAE’s first female Emirati Captain in commercial aviation,” Aug.26, Gulf Today.)

This is indeed an extraordinary achievement. I hope many more girls around the globe will feel inspired to follow Aisha. I feel as if I have achieved this milestone. It is indeed a great feeling for a girl.  In 2010, Aisha graduated from the programme and took her first flight on an Airbus A320 to Jordan.

Since then, she climbed the ranks, completing the requisite flying hours to become a Senior First Officer.  She was then the first female UAE national to fly the superjumbo passenger aircraft the Airbus A380.

Zaina.H — By email