One of my favourite stories from Laos published in the March edition of the Southeast Asia Globe.
21 year old, Phinanong Luesasinh has become Lao PDR's first locally trained woman pilot. Of the 120 applicants for pilot training with humanitarian aviation organisation PACTEC she rose to be one of the top six trainees and on 20 December 2016 became a proud owner of a commercial pilot's licence.
"˜At first my parents "“ who run a food stall at a central market - didn't want to allow me to undertake pilot training as they thought it was too dangerous for a girl but even though it is challenging, I wanted to follow my dream and show the Lao people that women can do anything "“ that they can do technical work and be pilots.'
Phinanong will now fly with Lao Skyway, a private airline flying domestic routes to the capital's north in mountainous terrain.
PACTEC is a humanitarian NGO registered in Switzerland providing expertise in aviation, communication and learning technologies to non-governmental and humanitarian organisations and government agencies worldwide.
