On Vietnamese Women’s Day, October 20, Captain Nguyen Phuong Anh spoke about how she ended up flying high, literally.
- How did you end up becoming a pilot?
- I’d been a flight attendant for seven years. Day after day, I dreamed of flying in the sky, going around the world. Watching male colleagues in “powerful” pilot uniforms, I had an urge to wear them and sit in the cockpit and have passengers look up at me with their admiration. Then my opportunity came. With no hesitation, I went to America to fulfill my dream.
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After years of hard work, Nguyen Phuong Anh made it happen. |
- What were your feelings on your first flight?
- For most of us, the first one is definitely the most memorable one. In the basic course of training, there is a compulsory lesson to take-off and land 3 times. It’s a difficult lesson, which requires concentration, determination and mastery.
I was so nervous when my course-mate passed the test. Bad weather also added up to my worries. For nights before my turn, I almost cried but didn’t. When I sat in the cockpit on my own and completed the course by myself, I was over the moon. As the plane rolled into the parking lot, I hugged my teacher and cried like a baby.
There is a tradition that the teacher pours water on the student on completion of his/her course, but I was so happy that I jumped into the swimming pool right after I got out of the plane.
Sitting in a commercial plane carrying hundreds of passengers is not only a responsibility, but also the pride of each pilot.
- What is the process of training to become a pilot, especially for women?
- For both men and women, it is a highly responsible and challenging job. Personally, I think it is harder for women to handle the pressure. I’ve been through sleepless nights, sweat and tears to achieve my knowledge and skills. I had to train and strive constantly to enhance my skills and to prove myself to male colleagues.
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The happy pilot bride in one of her unique wedding photos taken at the airport. |
- How hard did you have to train to become a captain?
- After graduation, I joined Vietjet Air as First Officer in 2014. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to learn and get promoted, especially for pilots. I never stopped improving my skills and adding to my experience. After four years of hard work and the guidance from Vietjet trainers, I succeeded in becoming a captain
Because I am a woman, I still have some typical pressures that male pilots don’t have. So, I keep my head down and try to work even harder. From manners to actions, I’m very careful when I coordinate with my partners, so that everything works well in the airplane.
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"We have a 2-year-old boy and he is interested in flying already", she said. |
- What has the life of a female pilot brought to you?
- The aviation industry is characterized by landing time, not normal time, like other jobs. However, it means happiness to me. I got married 3 years ago and my husband is also a captain with Vietjet. We have a 2-year-old boy and he is interested in flying already.
As a woman and a wife, I must know how to manage my schedule in detail in order to finish my job and take care of my family. I can cook quite well. In my free time, I try to organize parties for family members. When my husband and I are both on duty, we ask grandparents to take care of our boy.
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Captain Nguyen Phuong Anh and her husband. |
For women, the Lunar New Year is very important. But we who work in the aviation industry will still work non-stop, helping other people reunite with their families.
As a female captain, I do not want any better favors than my male colleagues. Thanks to the best working environment and family support, I always feel secure in completing the responsibilities of a female captain.