Laurie
Pre-takeoff checklist
An article I came across this week. Gulf Helicopters is one of our S92 customers and I've had the opportunity to work with some of their pilots. I cannot imagine growing up in this type of culture.
Woman pilot’s bumpy ride
Web posted at: 11/20/2007 3:57:48
Source ::: The Peninsula/ By Zahra Hassan
Qatar’s first copter pilot reveals her battle for acceptance
Doha • Success has a price. The same holds true for the first Qatari woman pilot, who made history when she became the only Arab female to fly a helicopter, but societal pressure and ridicule has stopped her from enjoying this unique achievement.
Says Munira Al Dosri, 25: “It all began with an interview I gave to a local paper which carried my picture in pilot’s uniform. It angered people so much that I became a target of ridicule.”
Speaking at the stall of the Gulf Helicopter Company at the Qatar Career Fair, Munira said she had received threatening phone calls after the interview appeared.
“All phone calls had a similar message to convey. People were telling me they felt ashamed to see me without the abaya and veil (Qatari women’s traditional attire). They told me they were ashamed of me being a Qatari woman,” she said.
Munira graduated from Presto College, Florida, USA, and started working at Gulf Helicopter Company as a pilot. “This is the way I used to dress while I was studying in the US. I don’t want to lie to myself and to people here by acting someone else. I just want to be myself, but I think many people (not my family) didn’t like that,” she told The Peninsula yesterday.
“I want society to realise how important it is to respect people’s personal freedom. I believe that we are living in a society which has a mindset which would take long to change. People here should learn to respect others’ freedom.”
Munira refused to pose for a photograph and said: “Now I am slowing down. I can’t change society overnight, so it is better to avoid problems as much as possible. I was asked by many TV channels for interviews but I said no to all of them,” she said.
Munira cited the case of her Saudi woman friend who is also a pilot — the first woman pilot in her country. “What shocks me is that this Saudi friend of mine has not faced any social opposition while appearing in public in her pilot’s uniform. On several occasions she has appeared on television and nobody has talked against her. You go to the Internet and type my name and you will see how my own people are discouraging me instead of supporting me,” she said.
The opposition she met, however, did not stop her from enjoying her work. “I am doing more than three flights a day. I am looking forward to completing my studies and become a full-fledged pilot. Right now I am only an assistant,” she said.
“I believe that in this world there are many people who hate success and I think this is the price I have to pay,” bemoaned Munira. “My family, especially my parents, are very understanding and supportive. Thanks to them, I am able to carry on with my profession and focus on what I’m doing.”
Gulf Helicopter is keen to woo more Qatari nationals to join it since currently it has only 16 Qatari pilots in its employment.
Woman pilot’s bumpy ride
Web posted at: 11/20/2007 3:57:48
Source ::: The Peninsula/ By Zahra Hassan
Qatar’s first copter pilot reveals her battle for acceptance
Doha • Success has a price. The same holds true for the first Qatari woman pilot, who made history when she became the only Arab female to fly a helicopter, but societal pressure and ridicule has stopped her from enjoying this unique achievement.
Says Munira Al Dosri, 25: “It all began with an interview I gave to a local paper which carried my picture in pilot’s uniform. It angered people so much that I became a target of ridicule.”
Speaking at the stall of the Gulf Helicopter Company at the Qatar Career Fair, Munira said she had received threatening phone calls after the interview appeared.
“All phone calls had a similar message to convey. People were telling me they felt ashamed to see me without the abaya and veil (Qatari women’s traditional attire). They told me they were ashamed of me being a Qatari woman,” she said.
Munira graduated from Presto College, Florida, USA, and started working at Gulf Helicopter Company as a pilot. “This is the way I used to dress while I was studying in the US. I don’t want to lie to myself and to people here by acting someone else. I just want to be myself, but I think many people (not my family) didn’t like that,” she told The Peninsula yesterday.
“I want society to realise how important it is to respect people’s personal freedom. I believe that we are living in a society which has a mindset which would take long to change. People here should learn to respect others’ freedom.”
Munira refused to pose for a photograph and said: “Now I am slowing down. I can’t change society overnight, so it is better to avoid problems as much as possible. I was asked by many TV channels for interviews but I said no to all of them,” she said.
Munira cited the case of her Saudi woman friend who is also a pilot — the first woman pilot in her country. “What shocks me is that this Saudi friend of mine has not faced any social opposition while appearing in public in her pilot’s uniform. On several occasions she has appeared on television and nobody has talked against her. You go to the Internet and type my name and you will see how my own people are discouraging me instead of supporting me,” she said.
The opposition she met, however, did not stop her from enjoying her work. “I am doing more than three flights a day. I am looking forward to completing my studies and become a full-fledged pilot. Right now I am only an assistant,” she said.
“I believe that in this world there are many people who hate success and I think this is the price I have to pay,” bemoaned Munira. “My family, especially my parents, are very understanding and supportive. Thanks to them, I am able to carry on with my profession and focus on what I’m doing.”
Gulf Helicopter is keen to woo more Qatari nationals to join it since currently it has only 16 Qatari pilots in its employment.
