She's the first local Malay woman to become a commercial pilot
SINGAPORE - Commercial pilot Farhain Abu Bakar is making waves in the aviation sector, a largely male-dominated industry.
Ms Farhain, 29, who flies with Scoot-Tigerair, was recently promoted to first officer. She is the first local Malay woman to become a commercial pilot, according to Berita Harian.
She was profiled in the Malay newspaper last Sunday (Nov 27), and is one of 17 female pilots in Scoot and Tigerair, which have a combined pilot roster of 399.
Singapore is an up-and-coming economy - one of the most profitable and largest in Asia. In their aviation sector, women pilots make up only 1% of the pilot force.
She's a "first officer," not a captain, which means she doesn't sit in the "left seat" or "captain's seat" but it's progress.
Of course reaching the position of First Officer is only 10% of the battle. Will her male compatriots treat her with respect or make things difficult for her? Will passengers throw a fit if they learn their co-pilot is a woman?
Time will tell.
