I am so proud to be one of the 
first female Emirati cadets to graduate from Etihad Airlines’ pilot training academy.

I graduated along with Aisha Al- Mansouri, and I hope that we are the first of many Emirati women to pass through the academy.

I saw an advert for Etihad Airways asking for trainee pilots and thought it would be a fantastic job and a great opportunity for me, so I applied.

Graduating is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication. But, it is only the start. I still have a long way to go before I can be a fully fledged pilot, but I am happy to have been given this opportunity.

My mother was so proud of me when I graduated and received my wings. Her eyes were filled with tears of joy. Everyone in my family is very happy for me because they know that this is my dream.

Flying an aeroplane is a thrilling experience. As part of my training, I had to fly smaller aircraft. I completed 205 hours of flight training in a single engine and a multi-engine aircraft. We would fly solo over airfields and over other areas and with an instructor, as well.

There is a lot of classroom work involved in the training, too. In total we had to complete 750 hours of tuition and study for flying exams and other tests of our knowledge.

People think that a pilot’s life is very glamorous and that you spend your time in exotic locations all over the world. What they don’t understand is the huge amount of work that goes into becoming a pilot. The life is very exciting and rewarding, but it’s tough, too. 

There is a lot of pressure when you are studying. You want to do well and pass all of the exams, but you also want people to be proud of you, so the pressure is good.

We do get to see the world, but we are not on holiday and we don’t get to go sightseeing at the places we fly to, unfortunately.

As a second officer, I’m set to 
undertake a multi-crew cooperation course and an Airbus A320 conversion course which will allow me to fly as a co-pilot with the Etihad Airways A320 fleet on short haul flights.

I would love to fly the huge A380 aircraft one day, but that is a long way off yet.

I’m 22 and originally from the emirate of Al Ain, but I now live in Abu Dhabi because that is where Etihad Airways in based.

There is a lot of training and work still to be done on full-flight simulators, but I should be fully qualified as an A320 first officer in about six months.

(As told to Iain Smith)