Emirates has promoted two pilots to the position of aircraft commander, in an unprecedented advancement for the company. Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri became the first UAE women to achieve this position in the company.
This year, the two received the fourth stripe, symbol of the position of commander, and are now part of the company’s team of captains, responsible for flying Boeing 777 aircraft.
Hanan and Bakhita built their entire careers at Emirates. The duo joined the company through the National Pilot Cadet Program, created to prepare Emirati citizens to work in commercial aviation.
Hanan joined the program in 2008. The desire to pursue the profession arose as a teenager, after seeing a female pilot from the United Arab Emirates on television.
“When I was 14, I saw the UAE’s first female pilot on TV and was impressed by her confidence and presence. From that moment on, all I wanted was to become a pilot,” she said.
Throughout his career, Hanan logged 9,253 flight hours and progressed step by step until he reached command. This achievement also reflects the success of the training program, which has trained hundreds of Emirati pilots in recent decades.
“Receiving my fourth badge is a milestone that fills me with pride, but I don’t see it as the final destination. This is just the beginning, and I believe the sky is the limit. The path to command is built over time, and my years as a first officer have prepared me for this moment,” he said.
Bakhita Al Mheiri started at Emirates in 2011. Inspired by other Emirati women already working in aviation, she advanced within the company to reach the rank of commander.
“My journey at Emirates has been profoundly influenced by the mentorship and guidance I have received from exceptional instructor captains and leaders throughout my flying and commanding journey,” he said.
“With the opportunity and responsibility given to me as captain, I hope to carry forward the same values and mentorship that have been entrusted to me, and support and mentor younger generations who are beginning their own aviation journey.”
The two commanders graduated from the National Cadet Pilot Program (NCPP), an initiative launched in 1993 and funded entirely by the Emirates Group.
The program offers comprehensive training at the Emirates Flight Training Academy, with theoretical training, practical flying, advanced technology and rigorous safety standards.
Participants also receive instruction at the company’s new pilot training center.
Over more than three decades, the program has trained Emirati pilots who have subsequently held roles as captain, flight instructor and leadership positions at Emirates and other aviation entities in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Captain Hassan Alhammadi, senior vice president of Flight Operations at Emirates, the initiative remains essential to prepare professionals to meet the company’s future demands.
“We are immensely proud of Hanan and Bakhita for becoming Emirates’ first female Emirati captains, a well-deserved achievement that reflects years of dedication, professionalism and hard work,” he said.
The promotion of the two pilots is part of the Emirates Group’s Emiratization strategy, which aims to increase the presence of Emirati citizens in various areas of the company through training, development and leadership.
In a message to the next generations of pilots, Hanan and Bakhita highlighted the advancement of female participation in the sector.
“Our leadership has long recognized women as essential partners in building our nation’s future, and Emirates is creating the environment and opportunities for women to thrive. We will continue to build on this for generations to come,” they said.