Making history: Comm Ayob Khan (third from right) and DCP Noor Sham posing with the four pioneer female pilots (from left) Insp Siti Nabilah, Insp Nur Hidayah, Insp Yeoh and Insp Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen.
Four women become pioneer female pilots of police air wing unit
IPOH: Four women have created history by becoming the pioneer female pilots of the Police Air Wing Operations unit.
Insp Nur Hidayah Mohd Aisa, 33, Insp Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen Wan Azulkefeli, 31, Insp Siti Nabilah Abdullah, 33, and Insp Yeoh Yee Chee, 31, were among 12 trainees who received their private pilot licences.
The official pinning of the honorary wing badges on them was carried out by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Comm Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay during the wing’s training base 44th anniversary here yesterday.
The four had been serving in the police force for a number of years at different departments and states before applying for the flying training programme.
Insp Nur Hidayah from Ipoh, who was based in Kapit, Sarawak prior to her training, was also announced as the best female trainee for the flying course.
“The training started in 2021, and ended in July this year. I encouraged myself to apply for the programme as I knew it was now or never.
“After fulfilling the criteria and being selected, the challenge for me and the rest of the women was to show our abilities and capabilities, since the majority of the trainees were men.
“The only criterion set for women during the one-and-a-half-year training was that we were not allowed to get married during that time frame,” she added.
Insp Yeoh, who hails from Penang and was attached to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department for seven years in Kedah, said she decided to take up the challenge when she saw the training programme was open to women.
“After meeting all the requirements, I decided to apply, and went through the necessary stages before being picked.
“This is indeed a proud moment for me and I cannot wait for my first official working flight,” she said, adding that she could now think about starting a family too.Insp Siti Nabilah, who has been in the police force for the past six years, said the most terrifying moment was during the solo flight training.
“During the first solo flight, I was excited but at the same time nervous, as part of the training was to take off and land safely.
“Since our training is over now, those of us in a relationship can start thinking about marriage and having a family,” she quipped.
She said the trainees were eagerly waiting for their first mission.
Earlier, during a press conference, the unit’s commander Deputy Comm Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani said there were previously lots of constraints in taking in female pilots, including matters involving pregnancy of married officers.
“But we decided to come up with terms and conditions before selection for female trainees, including for them not to get married during the training period.
“From 36 applicants, the final four were picked, and I am proud of our pioneer female pilots who completed their training.
“Currently in training are also six female pilots for our wing’s helicopter unit.
“We are encouraging more women to join the training programme,” he added.
