Etihad pilot Aisha Al Mansoori becomes UAE’s first female Emirati captain

Captain Aisha Al Mansoori has become the UAE’s first female Emirati captain in a commercial airline.

Captain Al Mansoori was granted command at a recent ceremony that took place at Etihad’s Crew Briefing Centre in the presence of her family and peers.

The 33-year-old captain joined Etihad’s Cadet Pilot programme in October 2007 and was one of only two female UAE nationals in her batch. In 2010, Al Mansoori successfully graduated from the programme and operated her first flight on an Airbus A320 to Amman, Jordan.

Since then, Al Mansoori climbed the ranks, completing the required flying hours to become a senior first officer.

She was the first female UAE national to fly the superjumbo passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380.

Al Mansoori completed Etihad’s rigorous programme of checks and the mandatory number of flying hours required to be considered for the rank of captain. She passed the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority’s theoretical knowledge and flying exams successfully and officially became the first Emirati female captain to hold an Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) in the UAE.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Etihad is extremely proud of Captain Aisha’s achievement and the trailblazing role she is playing for women in aviation in the UAE. She will no doubt be the first of many, and Etihad looks forward to welcoming more female pilots to the rank of captain in the future.

“Etihad remains committed to Emiratisation and to elevating Emirati women to play their part in the growth of the aviation industry.”

Captain Aisha Al Mansoori said: “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to join Etihad’s Cadet Pilot programme and grow my career over the years with Etihad. I am thankful for the tremendous support I have received from my instructors at Etihad and for their guidance through my training, which has shaped my skills and prepared me for the rank of captain.

“I am proud to be the first female Emirati to be a captain in a commercial airline, and I hope I will be an inspiration to young women to follow this career path.”

On August 28, Al Mansoori will commence regular flying duties as a captain at Etihad, a day which also marks Emirati Women’s Day.

In recent news, Etihad Airways will be increasing flights to New York this winter to offer travellers more choice. The carrier will add four weekly flights on the Abu Dhabi – New York route November 15 onwards, providing 11 weekly nonstop services to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Read: UAE’s Etihad Airways to ramp up flights to New York from November