ABU DHABI // Fatima Al Mansoori is one of the nation’s pioneering female aviators.
The fourth-year student on Abu Dhabi University’s aviation course is also an air force pilot and the first Emirati woman to fly a Lockheed C-130 Hercules turboprop military transport aircraft.
Her credentials put her in a category of elite female pilots that includes her colleague Mariam Al Mansouri, the UAE’s first female fighter pilot.
Ms Al Mansoori’s journey began in 1995 when she joined a military school at the age of 13, then received her pilot’s licence a decade later while attending Emirates’ flight school.
Around that time, she first laid eyes on the C-130 while working for a private flight operator.
“The C-130 was passing by all the time and I told them ‘I am going to fly this airplane,” she said.
After being inspired and receiving support from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Ms Al Mansoori joined Khalifa bin Zayed Air College, graduating in 2008.
“There were no girls in the air force, so I became the first cadet pilot,” she said.
Now, at the age of 34, she finds herself in the cockpit as co-pilot of a C-130, where she has flown missions that include shipping medical supplies to countries such as Somalia and Pakistan.
Even as a co-pilot, she decided that she still needed a formal university education, so she signed up for Abu Dhabi University’s aviation programme.
While admitting that there had been challenges, Ms Al Mansoori said she found flying the C-130 manageable.
“It makes no difference if the vehicle is being flown by a male or a female,” she said. Because you’re not using your muscles, you’re using your brain.”
With regards to her being one of the few females in the male-dominated Armed Forces, she said: “You need to be in the group, on the squadron, with the people around you, conserving the culture and the distance between the two genders,” she said. “There is respect and support for us all the way.”
Ms Al Mansoori needs 30 more hours of flying to become a C-130 captain. As for long-term plans, she said she wants to continue her studies and eventually complete a doctorate. From there, she plans to take her career beyond the stratosphere and become the UAE’s first astronaut.
“She will get there, trust me,” said Laurie Earl, ADU’s interim aviation programme director.
“Aviation can take me around the world,” Ms Al Mansoori said.
esamoglou@thenational.ae
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
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%3Cp%3EAriana%E2%80%99s%20Persian%20Kitchen%3Cbr%3EDinner%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EEstiatorio%20Milos%3Cbr%3EHouse%20of%20Desserts%3Cbr%3EJaleo%20by%20Jose%20Andres%3Cbr%3ELa%20Mar%3Cbr%3ELing%20Ling%3Cbr%3ELittle%20Venice%20Cake%20Company%3Cbr%3EMalibu%2090265%3Cbr%3ENobu%20by%20the%20Beach%3Cbr%3EResonance%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EThe%20Royal%20Tearoom%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
