Thai Air Force begins training first female pilots

Five women have been selected to train as non-combat pilots in Thailand’s military

The five women hoping to become the first to fly in the Royal Thai Air Force (Royal Thai Air Force)

The Royal Thai Air Force has recruited its first ever female trainee pilots after nearly a century in operation.

The five women were selected in May and have already started their training, with a view to taking on non-combat roles in transport aircraft and helicopters.

Of them, two are civilians - Sireethorn Lawansatian and Chonnisa Supawannapong - and three are commissioned Air Force officers – Karnchanok Janyarak, Peerasri Jalpaisarn and Chanakarn Sornjarn, the Bangkok Post reported.

Ms Chanthalert, 23, who was apparently the first woman to apply for one of the five positions, but was unsuccessful, said: “Now men and women have equal potential. It is not necessary to divide people by their gender.”

“Compared to working for the commercial airlines, the payment is less, but what we get is honour and dignity,” Khaosod English reported.

According to the news website, those applying had to be single Thai women aged between 18-28, with no visible tattoos and a commercial pilot’s license.

The women are expected to undertake a one-year training course at the Air Force headquarters in Don Muang before making history in their new roles.

The Bangkok Post says the Thai Air Force has been looking at the recruitment of women in flying roles due to the number of trained pilots choosing to work for private airlines because they offer higher salaries.