Saturday, January 13, 2007

Saudi Gets Its First Woman Pilot

Keeping in line with the reforms sweeping Saudi Arabia, the kingdom will soon see its first woman pilot taking over the skies.
Capt. Hanadi Zakariya Hindi will begin her flying stint with one of the jets belonging to Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, founder and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, later this year as soon as she completes her advance pilot proficiency training programme.
Though this is a path-breaking achievement for the 26-year-old first accredited female Saudi pilot, she will still need to be driven by a male chauffeur to the airport, the Arab News said. Women are still not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.
“I am busy building my flying hours and will be attending a shortterm course to equip myself with more intimate knowledge of the jet owned by Prince Alwaleed,” Hindi said.
Hindi, who wears the hijab along with her pilot’s epaulets and trousers, was the only woman in her flighttraining course in Jordan in 2004. But, she said, one of her trainers, Lena Al-Rabdi, was an Arab woman.

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