Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum has become the first woman to pilot the AW609 tiltrotor aircraft — which takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies at the speed of a plane.
Already the first female pilot in the Dubai ruling family, Sheikha Mozah piloted the plane earlier this month during a visit to Italian defence and aerospace company Leonardo’s US helicopter headquarters in Philadelphia.
This hour-long flight set a milestone for women pilots in the civil aviation sector.
AW609 tiltrotor manufacturer Leonardo said Sheikha Mozah's skillset as a Boeing 777 captain with Emirates and a certified pilot of the AW139 helicopter — also produced by Leonardo — made her uniquely qualified to fly the tiltrotor.
This is not just a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women
Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum
“I’m thrilled to be the first female pilot to test this revolutionary aircraft,” Sheikha Mozah said on Monday.
“This is not just a personal milestone but an opportunity to shatter another glass ceiling for women.
“I always push myself beyond my limits to prove that if I can do it, it is also within the reach of anyone else who is determined enough to try.”
She described it as a “natural evolution” of her experience as a pilot and said it felt like home when she stepped into the plane.
“I am still pinching myself,” she said.
“Aircraft like this one makes me feel really excited about the future of aviation, a future now open to more women who chose this industry.
“Piloting the AW609 has been on my bucket list since I first saw the early prototype images.”
Sheikha Mozah said she had been “really excited about the experience”.
The tiltrotor combines the strengths of the helicopter and plane. It can take off and land vertically, hover like a helicopter and fly at speeds of more than 500 kilometres an hour and cover almost 1,400km.
Leornardo expects civil, government, and military demand for the plane once it receives US Federal Aviation Administration certification.
In addition to passenger services, the AW609 can operate in search and rescue and emergency medical services roles.
William Hunt, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters in the US, said it was “incredibly meaningful” to have Sheikha Mozah as the first female pilot on the AW609 on May 9 and 10 in Philadelphia.
“Demonstrating the AW609’s combined fixed and rotary-winded piloting capabilities was a true milestone for the team in Philadelphia,” he said.
Sheikha Mozah said she set her heart set on flying the minute she set foot into the cockpit of an aircraft at the age of 12 and has set several records in aviation.
At the age of 17, she became the youngest student enrolled at Oxford Aviation Academy in England.
After receiving Boeing 777 certification, she was appointed as a first officer with Emirates in 2015 and soon after set out on her first passenger flight from Dubai to Amman, Jordan.
She was also the first lieutenant pilot in the Dubai Police Air Wing in 2019.
Sheikha Mozah said the tiltrotor was pilot-friendly and amazing to fly. She forgot what type of plane she was commanding until she looked out of the windows at the big rotors.
“The merging of the rotor and fixed-wing just makes it a totally different experience,” she said.
“It’s something you can’t describe unless you are in there.”
Leonardo brought the tiltrotor to Dubai during the Expo 2020 Dubai to show its capabilities.
The aircraft was flown from Italy to Dubai for its debut outside Europe and the US.
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
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A State of Passion
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Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
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- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
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All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm
Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
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Founded: January 2019
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Sector: Technology/Social media
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA
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South Africa
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Teaching in coronavirus times
