The first Saudi female pilot for commercial planes graduated Wednesday from a Jordanian flying academy.
Hanadi Zakaria Hindi, 28, completed the requirements for becoming a full-fledged pilot, including theory and technical examinations and practice tests required by the civil aviation authority in Jordan.
Hindi, who cannot drive a car in her country where women are banned to sit behind the wheel, told UPI, "I feel proud to be the first Saudi woman able to fly a plane." She said she joined the flying academy to fulfill the wish of her father who had wanted to be a pilot.
She said Saudi billionaire Prince Waleed bin Talal encouraged her to take up flying and paid for her studies in Jordan.
Hindi said after her graduation she will be working at a private airline company owned by Prince Waleed.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
