Sri Lankan appoints first Lady Captain
 

SriLankan Airlines appoints its first Lady Captain

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SriLankan Airlines recently marked a significant milestone in the country’s aviation history when Captain Anusha Siriratne was appointed as the National Carrier’s first Lady Captain.

Manoj Gunawardena, the airline’s CEO, said: “Our heartiest congratulations to Capt. Anusha Siriratne. This is a significant event for the National Carrier. Sri Lanka has been at the forefront of women’s empowerment and it is certainly high time that a Sri Lankan woman took command of an airliner.”

Interestingly, Capt. Anusha and her husband Capt. Hemantha Siriratne also made history as the first husband-wife pilot duo in the country. Capt. Hemantha received his Captain’s appointment earlier this year. Captain Anusha is modest about her appointment and brushed off her achievement, which had been her childhood ambition.

“Women have lagged behind in the field of aviation in Sri Lanka, in comparison to the rest of the world.
Even in neighbouring countries such as India, women have been airline Captains for many years now,” she said.

“It doesn’t make a difference whether you are a man or a woman when flying. The circumstances don’t change, the weather is the same, and the aircraft doesn’t know the difference!” she said.

Capt. Druvi Perera, Acting Senior Manager Flight Operations, said: “Every pilot at SriLankan is elated at this achievement. We now have several more female First Officers in the fleet, and hope to see them in command in a few years.”

Pradeepa Dahanayake, Head of Human Resources, said: “SriLankan has long been in the forefront of equal opportunity for women in this country, and Capt. Anusha’s appointment places the National Carrier once more in the limelight.”

SriLankan has several lady Managers in senior positions in most of its nine Divisions. It also has women in areas that have traditionally been dominated by men such as aircraft engineering.

Capt. Anusha also manages her career and her role as a mother very well – her daughter Anika is now five. She took a year off from flying when Anika was born.

“It’s been my dream to be a Captain one day. I’ve been very fortunate to have come upto this point, and my husband and parents have been wonderfully supportive of my career. All the Instructors, Pilots, and staff of the Flight Operations division have also been very helpful,” she said.

Capt. Anusha joined SriLankan as a Cadet Pilot in June 1998. She served as a Second Officer on the Lockheed L1011 Tristar fleet, and in 1999 was promoted to First Officer. At the time, the airline was phasing out its aging Tristars with the advent of the all-Airbus fleet, and she became a First Officer on the A320’s, A330’s and A340’s, flying to cities throughout SriLankan’s network of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

A past student of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya and of Ladies College, Capt. Anusha obtained her Private Pilot’s License at CDE Aviation, and her Commercial Pilot’s License in Texas. Prior to joining the National Carrier, she had a short stint as an Instructor at Sky Cabs in Ratmalana.

Source: Sri Lanka Breaking News-Daily Mirror Online
:ok::ok:

well best of luck to the airline ..and the pax....

Lady Pilot ???
 

sky dancer ...

care to expand your observation ??

I was once in a flight in SEA, where the pilot was a female. the european guy next to me was wondering if the flight will be safe, and I said "you always can step out, and show what a male-dominating person you are" and that was within the ears of the FA who supported me..

There are a lot of airlines being flown by female pilots, and even conservative Oman air has a female pilot.

Do you live in a dark continent where women are confined to kitchen corners and so ??? :ugh::ugh:

I have flown with female pilots in a few airlines and have always found them to be excellent operators, more than can be said for some of the males! Congrats to her I say.

Well certainly congrats to her..and just so you know I come from a place with loads of female pilots and my honest opinion.... barring one pilot who I regard as probably better than your average male pilot...the rest would have been better off sitting at home and watching soaps..and of course chatting over the phone...

Sky Dancer,

I am very curious which place that is? The places I have been to until now, I have seen women doing "our" job just as good as men and sometimes even better.

Congratulations to her!:ok:

Captain Siriratne, congratulations on your command. May you have a long and safe career.

well I'm sure most of our "Male" counterparts on this forum would agree with my view but I guess in this day and age one has to be politically correct so ..you are right they certainly are brilliant aviators....much better than the average male...:yuk:

Sky Dancer,

Did you notice that you ramble on and on without commas and fullstops!

I believe that is how you live your life....without ambition and having an atttitude !:E

Thanks for the observation Bro...But looking back I think I have achieved more than what you have in this lifetime...and I'm out for more !!!So that takes care of the punctuation which I think takes care of the ambition part.But you are right , I have an attitude.Oh and I think you should have a name change....how about Janes' Bro...coz that's where you belong pal....YOUR HEAD SHOVED UP A SKIRT !!:E:E

Sky Dancer,

I think you'll find most of the Male Pilots on this Forum don't share your views.

Congratulations to Capt. Anusha - flew with her when she was F/O.

Sky Dancer
You are arrogant and sexist! Unbelievable attitude for a guy this day and age, and in this profession. The kind of guy I wouldn't like flying me anywhere. :ugh:

guys,

just ignore sky dancer.
he's a real bloody attention seeker.
probably upset that a lady has accomplished more than he can ever dream of acheiving.
capt anusha..... you rock! well done!!!:D:D

Hey people relax :ok: - sky dancer has a right to his opinion whether you agree or disagree with him is indifferent - great thing about free speech ain`t it :cool:
As for lady pilots I`ve flown with some good ones and bad ones just like the guys, at the end of the day they are all human beings after all - so we all f--k up some time. :(
Cheers