| Danial Norjidi |
ROYAL Brunei Airlines (RB) has voiced its pride at the international recognition that three of its female pilots have received, while also praising its female staff across the board, which includes over 40 per cent of its management team.
The three pilots, Captain Sharifah Czarena, Senior First Officer Dayangku Nadiah binti Pengiran Khashiem and Senior First Officer Sariana binti Nordin were RB’s first ever female trio at flight deck, who operated flight BI081, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, from Brunei to Jeddah.
A photo was taken to mark the occasion, and was posted online by RB to accompany a message wishing Brunei a “Happy 32nd National Day”, which happened to be on the same day as the flight.
The photo and post proceeded to go viral on social media and saw the airline receive praise for its support of female crew.
It even garnered the attention of a number of international media outlets, including British national morning newspaper The Independent.
“We are roster pilots, and it so happened that three female pilots were rostered on the same flight, and a picture was taken to record that event prior to departure, and to our great surprise and great delight, it’s gone viral right around the world and it’s now become a source of great pride for all of our staff since it happened,” said outgoing RB Deputy Chairman and CEO Dermot Mannion in an interview yesterday.
The photo of Captain Sharifah Czarena, Senior First Officer Dayangku Nadiah binti Pengiran Khashiem and Senior First Officer Sariana binti Nordin that spread around the world. – RB
“We’re very proud that we already have a number of female pilots in the organisation, but actually it’s not just in the pilot area,” he said.
“We have an increasing number of female engineering staff now in the company, and even at management level, up to 40 per cent of the management team are very proud Bruneian female nationals,” he added. “So I think it’s a good story for the company and a good story for the country.”
RB’s new CEO, Karam Chand also spoke to the Weekend Bulletin on this, saying, “If you go and look at the multinationals, the large companies and small companies all around the world, to have over 40 per cent women in management ranks is an amazing achievement for Royal Brunei.”
Asked if there are plans to increase the number of female personnel at RB, he said, “Absolutely. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be 50-50. I think as a country and as a company we have done exceptionally well to develop the female talent and where they are.”
“We have no policies that go one way or the other. We try and pick the best talent, and we try to develop and maintain them,” he highlighted.
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