Woman with a licence to thrill...

Bassmah Bani Ahmad is a member of the Arabian section of the Ninety-Nines female pilot organisation and she thinks deeply about her role.

She told me: “When I was training to become a commercial pilot I met a captain on an A320 who told me, ‘Flying is an art’. At the time, I didn’t understand the depth and meaning to that simple statement.”

After completing her pilot training, Ahmad was hired as a flight instructor at Ayla Aviation Academy, Jordan. “Little did I know at the time that joining Ayla would open new and unexpected doors for me that would change me as a pilot,” Ahmad said. 

While working as a flight instructor, Ahmad used the opportunity to expand her flying skills in other areas at the Ayla Aviation-managed Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan.  “I did everything from jump pilot work with sky-divers, tourist flights over exhilarating locations like Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan and working with photographers and cinematographers, to ferrying aircraft throughout Europe,” she explained. 

“The exposure gave me the ability to really mould and tune my flying. Diversity was the new theme in my aviation career. I had flown more than ten different types of aircraft and changed my flying profile from one flight to another.  It was very exciting and made me appreciate how important it was to think safety first.”

Finding herself on a mission to increase her safety margin in the aircraft, Ahmad decided to increase her flying skills by going to UK-based flight training organisation Ultimate High to learn aerobatics.

“Aerobatic flying is blood pumping, exciting, thrilling, challenging and, in my opinion, unmatched by any other sport in terms of adrenaline and skill,” she enthused.  “It pushes skills to the ultimate limit and completely changes your perception of time.  Every detail counts in aerobatics; movements are small and complex. I discovered that in order to move and think simultaneously you have to become more aware, which means that you need to somehow slow down time.” 

And, according to Ahmad, there is no comparison to the exhilaration of performing an aerobatic manoeuver. “I was soon wrapped up in the excitement of doing loops, aileron rolls and Cuban 8s. It made amusement park rides seem like a walk in the park.

“In addition to the joy of flying aerobatics, I opened my eyes to the full potential of the aircraft and myself. Ayla Aviation Academy helped pave the way to my aviation career and I hope to continue the momentum and to grow as a pilot, wherever I go and whatever I fly.”

Alia Twal, governor of the Arabian section of the Ninety-Nines, added: “I feel so proud of the Arabian section women pilots. They all have very interesting stories and every one of them has achieved something very special and made a mark in the history of female pilots.”

The Arabian section now includes 30 female pilots and is looking forward to recruiting more licensed pilots . Contact aliatwal@hotmail.com .