KUALA LUMPUR: The aviation sector has long been a male-dominated industry, but women are boldly breaking through those barriers, making sacrifices to pursue their dreams, proving that passion and determination know no gender.
It was reported that in 2021, women comprised 4.7% of aircraft pilots globally, 3.1% of aircraft maintenance engineers and 21.1% of air traffic controllers, while in 2022, only 6% of airline chief executive officers were women.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said that as of March 6, 2026, women make up 36% of total employees at the company.
For Nur Ashikin Mohammad Ariff, 41, the first head of engineering in Malaysia’s aviation industry, who is working at MAG’s subsidiary Firefly Airlines, her dedication is not merely a word but a testament to her resolve.
Nur Ashikin, who is also the first woman to hold a Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM)-approved Nominated Post Holder position, said she travelled from Sungai Petani, Kedah to Subang Jaya during her 15-day postpartum confinement to attend the CAAM interview, days after giving birth to her second child in 2016.
For Nur Ashikin, being a CAAM-approved post holder comes with immense responsibility as she is accountable for critical regulatory and operational functions.
“Holding this position means that if anything happens, you are answerable not just to the company but to the regulatory authorities as well,” she told Bernama and Berita Harian in an interview.
As the head of engineering, Nur Ashikin leads a 52-member team, ensuring staff competency and strict compliance with aviation regulations.
Beyond the hangar, she returns home to another equally demanding title: mother of three.
“My family is very supportive. My children are grown up, and as a working mother, they understand the responsibilities I carry. Having their encouragement makes it possible for me to lead a team, meet regulatory demands and navigate the pressures of engineering,” she said.
MAB Engineering maintenance operator Nurlin Mazlan, 40, believes that women have equal opportunities in aviation.
“The support is there and I can grow within different roles. There is no bias, or maybe I can say that on behalf of the organisation, no discrimination,” she said.
For Nurlin, managing a diverse team is more than giving directions; it is the challenge of aligning every mind and role with the mission and vision of the organisation.
Walking in the same shoes as Nur Ashikin, Nurlin said her biggest support in climbing the ladder is her understanding husband, a licensed aircraft engineer at Raya Airways, who makes balancing family and work possible.
“In our culture, traditional roles are still preferred. But we are moving progressively, especially in my generation – the millennials,” said Nurlin, who added that her upward trajectory required a mindset shift.
“Women tend to want to be qualified for every job requirement, but this is where we should take that leap of faith to try something that is outside our comfort zone.
“I used to think that I had to tick every box to acquire a role or go up the ladder. But then, my mindset shifted, and it has been fruitful,” she said.
For Indonesian-born former English teacher Ryani Airin Putri Wenas, 25, becoming a flight attendant has fulfilled her mother’s long-time ambition.
Airin’s mother, Henny Soagitono, 47, came from a strict background and did not get to be a flight attendant as her mother did not view that as a viable career path.
Henny, however, encouraged Airin to pursue her dreams, with the full-time housewife guiding her daughter until she succeeded in becoming a crew member of Malaysia Airlines.
“My mum has been grooming me for this career ever since I was little. She strictly emphasised my appearance, such as brushing my teeth every day, keeping things neat and clean, as well as improving my English.
“She told me that small things matter,” she added.
