Meet Skardu’s first woman to obtain flying licence

20-year-old says family support helped her achieve this dream

GILGIT: Soaring to new heights, Aimen Amir has become the first woman from Skardu town in Gilgit-Baltistan to obtain a licence to fly private aircraft.

The-20-year-old got her licence from Rawalpindi Flying Club after passing her examinations and completing 50 hours of flight in six months – a mandatory procedure to obtain the necessary certification.



“It is a dream come true,” Aimen told The Express Tribune. The 20-year-old applied for the licence after passing her Grade-12 examination with over 65% marks.

Aimen’s father is a government officer in G-B and she has three sisters.

“I’m grateful to my father, family members and teachers for supporting my quest,” Aimen said.

Sky-high ambitions

As part of her progression, Aimen first received ground training which honed her skills in direction, telecommunication, planning and determining weather conditions.

Aimen can now fly private aircraft, but that is not what she aspires to. She wants to become a commercial pilot and she has to complete another 140 flying hours to achieve that goal. “My aim is to be a commercial pilot and I am committed to that,” she said.



Aimen said she wanted to be a pilot from childhood, but her mother never endorsed the idea. “My mother wasn’t comfortable,” Aimen said. “She considered it a dangerous profession. She wanted me to be a doctor, but my father remained steadfast and supported the idea.”



Commendable feat

Aimen is the first woman from Skardu and the third from G-B to achieve such a feat. Before her, two women from Hunza completed flight training.

According to Aimen, flying is an honourable profession and urged other women from G-B to follow in her footsteps. “I invite other women from the region to join this field,” Aimen said. She is the niece of former chief minister Mehdi Shah.

Aimen’s accomplishment has been lauded by family and friends. “We all take pride in what she has done,” said Amar Khan, a relative.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2016.