Saumi’s journey with the Times
More than a newspaper
FIJI Airways first ever woman jet aircraft command, Captain Selai Saumi said the journey with The Fiji Times started early for her such as most Fijian children.
She said growing up she’d watch her parents pore over each page cover to cover, going through each morsel of news after the morning ritual of buying bread for breakfast each day.
“My dad would religiously do the crosswords in the word game section to culminate the daily newspaper read.
“Years on I’ve come to appreciate The Fiji
Times as much more than a newspaper. “While it serves its purpose in bringing important information about current events to the readers’ doorstep it is also a vehicle to especially encourage readers young and old with truly uplifting inspirational stories and more importantly create awareness on individuals who are particularly facing hard time and could use a helping hand from others in the society,” she shared.
Citing an example a particular story that stood out for her was Henry — the Suva market wheelbarrow boy who worked his way up to being a flight attendant.
Another story that she particularly highlighted was that of a lone elderly grandmother who was raising her very young grandchildren with no form of employment or financial backing.
Capt Saumi liked how The Fiji Times shared a bank account that the public could access to donate money to help the grandmother.
She summarised it well when she said stories like that when told right can be a real game changer in people’s lives for the greater good… “And I’m grateful to The Fiji
Times for being responsible for that through the years ... vinaka vakalevu and happy 150th anniversary The Fiji Times”.
In December 2015, Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Andre Viljoen announced the commissioning of the national carrier’s first ever woman jet aircraft command in Capt Saumi.
Mr Viljoen made the announcement at the 17th Attorney-General’s Conference at Natadola in December 2015.
He described it as a momentous occasion for Fiji Airways because they now had their first qualified female jet pilot and this was a great achievement for Fiji Airways in their drive to get females into senior management positions in the company.
At the time Capt Saumi said earning her stripes and the pilot’s seat in the sophisticated Boeing 737 was the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
“It feels very satisfying and comes with a great deal of responsibility,” she said.
“I have so many people to thank for helping me get this far.”
Capt Saumi earned her place in local aviation history by becoming the first ever Fijian woman to assume command on the Fiji Airways jet fleet.
She joined Fiji Airways in March 2007, and was previously a first officer on the Boeing 737 and second officer on the Boeing 767 aircraft.
Her responsibilities include teaching aircraft performance to new Boeing 737 pilots.
She is a qualified crew resource management instructor and a combined crew resource management facilitator.
Capt Saumi was educated at St Anne’s Primary School and St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva.
Her late father, Capt Nacanieli Saumi, was a Boeing 737 check and training Captain for Fiji Airways.
He died among others in the Air Fiji flight PC 121 plane that crashed in the rugged interior of Delailasekau in 1999.