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Emirates recently hosted Shaesta Waiz for a Boeing 777 simulator challenge in its home base of Dubai, highlighting the importance of women’s contributions to the growth and development of aviation. Waiz is the founder and pilot of Dreams Soar, Inc. (DSI), a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and empower young females to become the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and aviation professionals. The outreach includes a global solo flight mission, where Waiz is piloting a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 to circumnavigate the globe.
Waiz stopped in Dubai, one of 34 stops across 18 countries in her five-continent journey, which will clock in just under 47,000 km upon completion.
Waiz was met at Emirates Aviation College by Bakhita Al-Muheiri, Emirates Boeing 777 first officer, to test her aerial skills in an Emirates Boeing 777 simulator. Al-Muheiri is one of Emirates’ youngest female Emirati pilots at 24 years.
Adel Al-Redha, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Emirates, said: “Through our National Cadet Pilot Programme, we want to grow the next generation of female pilots, by creating an environment that retains, nurtures and values them so they are able to progress and take a wider role within our industry. We also believe that one of the ways to support the need for pilots today is to tap into the female talent pool and inspire them to take their career path into aviation which is one of the most rewarding fields.”
Al-Muheiri said: “I am truly inspired by Shaesta’s story. As the first civilian female pilot from Afghanistan, she has demonstrated that the world is full of possibilities and when we expose females to a wide range of careers in STEM and aviation we boost their interest to enter fast-moving sectors with a wealth of opportunities.”
Waiz said: “An airplane doesn’t know if you are a girl or boy, what your religion or background is. It reacts based on the input of the pilot. My hope from the time I spent flying the Boeing 777 simulator with Bakhita, learning of her empowering story, and Emirates helping to pave the way for many more young women, is for more role models to devote their time and energy inspiring our next generation.”