Meet female pilot who began to fly as a teen
Maira Umar Bashir, 24, is a pilot, and she hails from Borno State. She got her Private Pilot License from 43 Air School, her Commercial Pilot License from Mach 1 Aviation Academy, and is currently at Cranfield Aviation Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, undergoing a Remote Pilot license (RPL) course which will allow her to […]
Maira Umar Bashir, 24, is a pilot, and she hails from Borno State. She got her Private Pilot License from 43 Air School, her Commercial Pilot License from Mach 1 Aviation Academy, and is currently at Cranfield Aviation Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, undergoing a Remote Pilot license (RPL) course which will allow her to operate heavy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones. In this interview, she reveals how she became a pilot at an early age, and more.
Daily Trust: At what age did you start flying a plane?
Maira Umar Bashir: I started flying at the age of 17, and became a qualified pilot at 18.
DT: How did your parents react when you first told them you wanted to be a pilot?
Maira: They were very happy. My parents are easygoing people so I never had difficulties with them. They supported me every step of the way and I am truly grateful for that.
DT: How did it feel flying for the first time?
Maira: I was very ecstatic; words can’t truly describe how I felt. To me flying for the first time was simply magical, and a dream come true. I wish I could play that same day over and over again. It’s a moment and a day I will forever cherish; the 11th of September 2012.
DT: What has it been like as a female in a male-dominated profession?
Maira: Men are generally seen as more dedicated, seeing that for women they may not be able to fly sometimes due to natural issues. We are not given the opportunity to show ourselves and our capabilities. And also, when a man makes a mistake, it’s seen as just a mere mistake but when we make mistakes, it is seen as a lack of ability rather than a mistake.
DT: Did you dream about being a pilot while growing up?
Maira: Yes I did. It has been a lifelong dream. It fascinated me seeing take offs and landings and watching airplanes soaring the sky.
DT: Have you ever felt out of place, starting out so young?
Maira: Yes. I was actually the youngest back then when I started. Sometimes I asked myself if I made the right choice but I dealt with it and I didn’t really make it a factor.
DT: What’s the biggest misconception people generally have about pilots?
Maira: Well, mostly people think I won’t have time for myself. Being a pilot is like every other job. For example, doctors and engineers. We have doctors who do night shifts the same applies to pilots. Sometimes you fly in the morning, afternoon or at night. We have domestic airlines where the pilot flies all through the day and rest for the night at home, so it really depends on how you look at it.
DT: What’s the best part of the job?
Maira: Definitely the views and the serenity one enjoys while flying, way up there in the skies. As for the toughest part of it all, I would say the long sleepless nights as a student. And also, I think for pilots it’s the uncertainty of how safe it is out there, and landing the plane back safely.
DT: Were you nervous when you first started, and how did you overcome it?
Maira: It’s natural to be nervous. But with the zeal I’ve had all these years, and determination to achieve my passion and my dream, it was easy for me to overcome it.
DT: Where do you see yourself in the future, and what are your plans for your career?
Maira: Flying for an airline, perhaps as a captain too, insha Allah. To also expand my knowledge, not just as a pilot, but also the administrative part of it and the aviation world entirely and to also have my name written in gold in the aviation industry.
DT: After a nerve-wracking activity like flying planes, how do you relax?
Maira: I take time to reflect on my life, I love to read, appreciate life. I also love to spend quality time with my family.
DT: What words do you have for young women who would want to follow a similar path?
Maira: You should believe in yourself. Whatever you do, you should do it because you want to, not because someone else did it. If you can dream it, then you certainly can achieve it. And these words aren’t just motivational, they are very true.