Thailand's first two female air force pilots awarded aviator badges

BANGKOK, September 27 (TNA) - The first two female pilots of the Royal Thai Air Force have been awarded wing badges after completing their training and demonstrating their flying competency required by the Royal Thai Air Force. Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Treetod Sonjance on Tuesday presided over a ceremony in Bangkok to award the wing badges to the two female pilots, including Pilot Officer Chonnisa Supawannapong and Pilot Officer Sireethorn Lawansathien. In this regard, Air Chief Marshal Treetod said the first two Thai female pilots will then be posted to fly C-130 transport aircraft in Squadron 601, Wing 6, following their further training to gain more skills in flying the C-130 aircraft for a period of time, after which they will be assigned to work with male pilots. In the meantime, three other female Thai pilots are undergoing training. Under a Royal Thai Air Force three-year project, the Royal Thai Air Force plans to recruit five female pilots each year and after the project ends, an evaluation will be made. "All the first five selected female pilots are the pride of the Royal Thai Air Force. It is possible that more female pilots will be recruited in the future to fly more aircraft, expected to be added to the Royal Thai Air Force's fleets", noted the Thai air force chief. On the occasion, the air-force commander-in-chief thanked Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan for his approval to run the female pilot recruitment project for the first time. (TNA)