‘Dreams Soar’ pilot on solo round-the-world flight lands in Montreal – ICAO
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Pilot
Abuja, May 15, 2017 (NAN) Shaesta Waiz, the courageous 29-year-old pilot of the 2017 ‘Dreams Soar’ solo round-the-world flight for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), has landed at Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, Montreal.
A statement by William Raillant-Clark, Communications Officer, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), disclosed this on Monday.
Raillant-Clark said the flight was greeted by a team of ICAO officials and the management of STRATOS Aviation flight school.
He said that Shaesta would become the youngest woman in history to embark on and complete a solo round-the-world flight when she completes her adventurous journey through 30 stops and 18 countries.
He quoted her as saying: “It is really incredible to have Montreal, the Headquarters of ICAO and the World Capital of Civil Aviation, as one of my very first Dreams Soar stops.
“ICAO especially has been a huge help since Dreams Soar was first conceived, introducing me to aviation officials in so many of the countries I’ll be visiting.
“It has been providing flight safety and route advice, and mainly just by helping to organise the global support and cooperation that projects like this really depend on.
“I’d only add that my mission is all about inspiring a new generation of girls to become pilots.
“I also want them to better understand how important a decent STEM education is to making their career dreams a reality.
“Access for girls to STEM learning is not only about resources, but attitudes as well in many parts of the world.
“Dreams Soar hopes to be a positive force for change at every stop along our route.”
According to the statement, ICAO’s support for Dreams Soar is part of its Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) programme.
“It is focused on attracting the best and brightest to fill the hundreds of thousands of careers which will soon be available for new pilots and other skilled air transport personnel.
“STEM educational capacity and access globally is a critical prerequisite to developing this 21st century aviation workforce, making Dreams Soar a very natural mission to support,’’ it said.
Raillant-Clark also quoted Dr Fang Liu, ICAO’s Secretary General as saying, “ICAO is honoured to be a main Dreams Soar supporter.
“We are very pleased that Shaesta’s objectives align so well not only with our established NGAP programme, but also the new Gender Equality Programme we have recently launched.
“Only three to five per cent of commercial pilots globally are women today, and that percentage must rise significantly if aviation is to effectively address its long-term human resources challenges.
“Dreams Soar is an amazing opportunity for us to bring this important message to young women all over the world.”
Raillank-Clerk said the Dreams Soar mission would be spending the entire week of May 15 to19 in Montreal, to conduct wide range of student outreach and official events with ICAO support.
“For more information on the Dreams Soar mission details and global route, please visit the ICAO NGAP website or the main Dreams Soar site,’’ he disclosed. (NAN)
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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola