Flight Crew Land PLANE in Country Where They’re Forbidden from Driving

Flight Crew Land PLANE in Country Where They’re Forbidden from Driving | Secret Flying

Royal Brunei Airlines’ first all-female pilot crew touches down in Saudi Arabia.

 

Last month, there was a landmark moment for Royal Brunei Airlines as their first all-female pilot crew flew from Brunei to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Captain Sharifah Czarena and senior first officers Sariana Nordin and Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem, piloted the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the 23rd February 2016 to mark Brunei’s National Day (celebrating the country’s independence).

What makes this story all the more interesting, is that upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, they are of course forbidden from driving a car.

 

Captain Czarena became the first female captain of the airline in 2012. In an interview with The Brunei Times, she said “as a woman, a Bruneian woman, it is such a great achievement. It’s really showing the younger generation or the girls especially that whatever they dream of, they can achieve it.”

 

All female crews are becoming more common, as more women train to be pilots. Several carriers were able to operate long-haul flights staffed by female pilots to coincide with Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (7th-13th March).

 

Royal Brunei Airlines says it is actively encouraging more women to pursue careers as pilots. For example, it has introduced an aircraft engineer apprentice programme available for both men and women.