Ms Al Mansouri watched brother Ali earn his flying credentials and join Abu Dhabi Police, then saw her sister, Maj Mariam Al Mansouri, make headlines as she led the UAE mission against ISIL in Iraq.
Ms Al Mansouri said that she also dreamt of becoming a pilot and realised her dream when she graduated from Etihad’s training academy six years ago.
At the time, she was one of two female Emiratis in a classroom of more than 500 men, choosing a career in a traditionally male-dominated field.
After graduating from the academy, Ms Al Mansouri worked as a second officer on the A320, before graduating to the A330 as a first officer.
Her inaugural flight on the Airbus from Abu Dhabi to London in 2014 was “very overwhelming”, considering the sheer size of the plane and being responsible for more than 500 passengers on board, Ms Al Mansouri says.
