Sharifah Czarena
Sharifah Czarena | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Cabair Flying School |
| Known for | First female captain from Brunei |
| Aviation career | |
| Rank | Captain |
Sharifah Czarena is a Bruneian pilot, who was the first woman from Brunei to captain a commercial airliner. She was initially seconded to Loganair, where she flew the Saab 340. Since flying for Royal Brunei Airlines, she has flown Boeing 767s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Career[edit]
Sharifah Czarena trained as a pilot cadet in 2003, taking her lessons at the Cabair Flying School, Cranfield.[1] After graduating in 2004, she was seconded from Royal Brunei Airlines to Scottish carrier Loganair for two years, flying the Saab 340.[1][2] On her return to Royal Brunei Airlines, she flew the Boeing 767 as a First Officer.[1]
Czarena was promoted to Senior First Officer in 2007, and to Captain in 2012.[1] She was the first woman from Brunei and Southeast Asia to become the captain of a commercial airliner.[3] At the time, she said "Being a pilot, people normally see it as being a male dominant occupation. As a woman, a Bruneian woman, it is such a great achievement. It’s really showing the younger generation or the girls especially that whatever they dream of, they can achieve it."[4]
In 2016, she made history as the Captain of the first all female flight crew to land in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,[5] a country at which time did not allow women to get driving licences. The flight was timed to celebrate Brunei's National Day.[6] Alongside her in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were Senior First Officers Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem and Sariana Nordin.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Captain Sharifah Czarena". Inspire. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ "A day in the life: Captain Sharifah Czarena". Travel Weekly. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ a b "First all-women flight crew from Brunei lands in country where women can't drive". New York Times. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ O'Shea, Ronan J. (23 October 2017). "Southwest Airlines celebrates first all-female flight crew". The Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ Sandhu, Serina (15 March 2016). "Royal Brunei Airlines' first all-female pilot crew lands plane in Saudi Arabia - where women are not allowed to drive". The Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: All female Brunei crew in historic flight". BBC News. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2017.