A new milestone for female pilots in civil aviation has been set by Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum.
Sheikha Mozah is the first woman to pilot the AW609 tiltrotor on a visit to the United States helicopter headquarters of Leonardo, in Philadelphia.
The AW609 offers new opportunities for passenger transport and public service as the aircraft has the ability to take off and land vertically as well as hover like a helicopter.
The aircraft can be used for different kinds of missions, from VIP transport, emergency medical service, search and rescue to government applications.
Sheikha Mozah said, “I’m thrilled to be the first female pilot to test this revolutionary aircraft. It was not only a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women. I always push myself beyond my limits to prove that if I can do it, it is also within the reach of anyone else who is determined enough to try."
Sheikha Mozah further added, "Piloting the AW609 has been something I’ve truly wanted to experience since I first saw the early prototype images. It is the natural evolution of my piloting experience, merging both fixed and rotary-winged piloting skills. Aircrafts like the AW609 tiltrotor make me feel really excited about the future of aviation, a future now open to more women who chose this industry.”