After putting in a lot of effort to make her childhood goal come true, Reem Filmban becomes the first Saudi female helicopter pilot. She is also one of the youngest pilots in the world.
Reem has had the desire of becoming a pilot and operating planes ever since she was a little girl. This dream has fueled her enthusiasm for aviation, which has led her to study films about aviation and plane flight.
“I felt excited, enthusiastic, and motivated to fulfill my ambition of becoming an aviator one day,” she told the Saudi news site Sabq.
“I felt like I was living my dream.” she added
Reem moved to the United States after graduating from high school in Saudi Arabia. There, she completed her education in aviation and earned a license to become a pilot.
“I devoted a whole year to my education and training. This distribution varies with each individual. The amount of time spent on training and studying may also be affected by external factors such as weather. “I can fly as long as the weather is good,” she said. The pilot also added that she had logged 255 hours in the air during that particular year.
Reem argued that women are capable of doing the same tasks as males in the role of a pilot. She encouraged young women who have an interest in aviation to seek a career in the field.
“The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of obstacles and challenges to overcome.”
As part of the major changes that have taken place in the kingdom in recent years, Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its efforts to empower women in a variety of fields. Having a first saudi female helicopter pilot is another step in the direction.
In 2018, the monarchy lifted its decades-long prohibition on women driving, making it possible for women to get their driver’s licenses for the first time in the country’s history.
