IPOH: Four police officers with the rank of Inspector created history when they became the first female pilots for the Air Operation Force (PGU), 44 years after its establishment.
Inspector Wan Aulia Hami Fariheen Wan Azulkefeli, 31; Inspector Yeoh Yee Chee, 31; Inspector Siti Nabilah Abdullah, 33 and Inspector Nur Hidayah Mohd Aisa, 33, were among 12 police officers who were awarded the Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) from the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay at the 44th Anniversary of PGU at the Police Air Wing Training Base (PLPGU) here, today.
Nur Hidayah who was awarded the Best Flight Trainer said all the trainees spent about a year and six months and the training ended in July this year.
"We are the first women pilots that were chosen to join the training and it was not easy for us. We needed to prove that we have the same abilities as men in terms of academics and aviation.
"Should we have any issue, we will refer to our instructors and they have given their best guidance and cooperation," she said adding that she previously served at the Criminal Investigation Department of Kapit district police headquarters in Sarawak.
The fourth of seven siblings who hails from Ipoh here added that her family fully supported her decision to be a pilot.
"They support me because they know I like to try something new. I am also the first police officer in my family," said the Bachelor of Materials Engineering graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Meanwhile, Yeoh said that when PGU opened a women's pilot intake, she immediately grabbed the chance to challenge herself.
"There were so many stages and requirements that we needed to pass. There were two stages, one was the ground school (theory) and the second was the flying phase (practical).
"We needed to pass 11 subjects, only then could we qualified for the flying phase. Our job scope after this will be in search and rescue, as well as handling VIP flights as co-pilots and others," she said.
Yeoh who served for seven years with the Kedah police headquarters' Commercial Crime Investigation Department added that she was proud to be able to break male dominance in the aviation industry.
"The biggest challenge during the training would be my first solo. I was so excited but also nervous at the same time. You have to take off and land the aircraft on your own.
"To ladies who want to take up the challenge in the aviation industry, they should understand and be in love with aviation itself, besides being disciplined and motivated," she added.
Meanwhile, PGU commander Datuk Noor Sham Md Jani said the four female police officers were selected to participate in the PPL course after a strict screening of 36 participants.
"For the first time in the history of PGU, six female inspector-ranked pilots are being trained. This is the best development for the next generation," he said.
He added that the police highly encouraged capable and qualified female police officers to join the PGU to strengthen the effectiveness of its operations.