KUCHING: Enjoying views of sunset from the cockpit. Captain Amira Nuria Anuar, 31, believes this is the best part of her job as a commercial pilot.
Amira, who has been a commercial pilot for 10 years, believes that life in the cockpit is not only for men but for women, too.
“The sky is the limit. Women are capable of flying aircrafts, just like men,” she told New Sarawak Tribune during a phone call interview on Thursday.
The Sarawakian woman said she never dreamt of being a pilot until she was accepted for training by a flying school in Bintulu.
“I saw the flying school advertisement inviting school leavers to enrol in the course.
“Everything changed when I started my training course at the Gulf Golden International Flying Academy in Bintulu. I immediately fell in love with flying,” she said.
Amira was 21 when she first worked with AirAsia as a co-pilot.
She admitted that it took a while for her male colleagues to get used to sharing a cockpit with a woman.
“It was quite daunting at first. Some of my colleagues were quite awkward with my presence.
“However, as the time went by, through consistent hard work and dedication, I was able to adapt to the environment.
“As long as you show that you are capable of delivering the job, you will be treated equally,” she said.
The process of becoming a pilot, she recalled, was tough.
“The training was tough. It involved training with simulators and required hard work, mental and physical strength as well as discipline.
“Most importantly, we had to understand that the safety of our passengers and fellow cabin crew was our biggest responsibility,” she added.
Despite the long hours in the sky and hectic night stop schedule, life in the cockpit has been a rewarding journey for Amira.
“Taking off on time and safely has always given me a great sense of fulfilment,” she said.
In 2016, after she had her first baby girl, Amira left AirAsia and now works with Fireflyz as a captain.
Working as a pilot means being away from home for long periods of time.
“As a pilot, one has to work different hours and days. The schedule is more packed if one has to undertake both international and domestic flights,” she said.
“I am lucky because my husband is also a pilot and a captain; we understand the nature of our work.”
Despite the challenges, Amira is grateful for her job and her blessings.
“I am thankful for what God has given to me – from becoming a captain to becoming a wife and a mother. Nothing is free in life without hard work,” she added.
“I am living my dream of being a pilot. It’s really exhilarating high up in the sky and soaking myself with the best ever views from above.”
Amira encourages young Sarawak women to become pilots.
“Prepare yourself mentally and physically because working in a man’s world, we have to be strong and strict to ensure that no men will ever try to step on you.
“I can guarantee once you become a pilot, your life will never be the same.”
Asked about her view on the movement control order (MCO), Amira said the silver lining from the crisis was that she was able to spend more quality time with her daughter.
“Of course, I miss flying. I believe all pilots miss the cockpit and the sky too.”
“I hope everyone will continue to stay strong and will work together to make the aviation industry strong again after the crisis,” she said.
