Women pilots soaring high
KUALA LUMPUR: Three local women – Pearl Wendy Mak, Wang Wen Chien and Nur Waie Hidayah Mohamad Rasidin – have broken traditional gender stereotypes by becoming the first batch of female pilots with Malaysia Airlines.
Capt Mak, 50, who has been flying for 25 years, acknowledged that flying an aircraft is not an easy job for women. She worked with seven foreign airlines over the years before deciding to return home.
Second Officer Wang’s dream of being a pilot began when her father took her for a “Fly for Fun” one-day pilot course in Subang when she was 15.
“I was fascinated when the aircraft took off with the pilot seated next to me, he actually taught me to do some manoeuvres in the sky and I found it really cool.”
She earned her wings in Sydney, Australia, and completed her conversion course at the Malaysian Flying Academy in 2016 before joining Malaysia Airlines as a cadet pilot in August 2017.
Nur Waie Hidayah, 21, a cadet pilot with Malaysia Airlines since December 2017, was inspired by her father who is also a pilot.
“I grew up in Abu Dhabi, where my father is based. After graduating from high school in 2013, I returned to Malaysia and went to a flying school in Malacca.
“My 18 months training there was tough and it took a lot of support from my loved ones and a lot of studying, will power and strict discipline to complete the course.
Mak, Wang and Nur Waie were honoured at the MAS Crew Graduation ceremony on Aug 11 where 111 cabin crew and pilots graduated.
At the ceremony, Malaysia Airlines Group chief executive officer Capt Izham Ismail said: “I’m very proud that for the first time, Malaysia Airlines has three amazing, strong and resilient women graduating as pilots. It is my hope that the future of Malaysia Airlines includes many more female captains flying our aircraft and making the country proud”. – Bernama