Four women make history as first female police air wing pilots

Four police officers with the rank of inspector created history when they became the first female pilots of the police Air Operation Force (PGU) since its inception on Feb 1, 1979.

They are Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen Wan Azulkefeli (31), Yeoh Yee Chee (31), Siti Nabila Abdullah (33), and Nur Hidayah Mohd Aisa (33).

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said they were among 12 police officers who were awarded the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) at the 44th Anniversary of PGU at the Police Air Wing Training Base (PLPGU) yesterday.

“This is the first time in the history that PGU has recruited female officers to be trained. These officers and personnel are qualified to perform flight operations with existing flight crew,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Ayob said PGU’s role is divided into six main areas - namely public safety and order, crime prevention, operational support as well as mercy, tactical and training flights.

PGU commander Noor Sham Md Jani said the four female police officers were selected to participate in the PPL course after strict screening of 36 participants.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay

“This is our pioneer team. Insya Allah, we will have six more women pilots for helicopters next month. For the first time in history, PLPGU is training six female police officers with the rank of inspector,” he said.

He also said the police encouraged capable and qualified female police officers to join PGU to strengthen the effectiveness of its operations.

Meanwhile, Nur Hidayah who was awarded the Best Flight Trainee said all the trainees spent about one and a half years training which ended in July this year.

Multiple skills required

“The challenge is that we are the first female pilots, so we have to prove our skills and abilities as much as men in terms of science and aviation," said the fourth of seven siblings.

The Ipoh-born said participants must meet the criteria set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).

They include passing Bahasa Melayu, English, and Mathematics in SPM - with fluency in spoken and written English as well as being at least 163 cm tall.

Siti Nabila said that one of the things that motivated her to take the course was to challenge herself to do something new.

For Yeoh, on the other hand, it is a source of inspiration to the community and police by proving that women can also be in aviation as women are rarely represented in this field.

"My father is a businessperson. In the Chinese mindset, it is difficult to get into the civil service, so I took it as a challenge.

“I was interested and applied by going through several stages which gave me a sense of achievement to become a police officer so that I can help the community," she said.

- Bernama