FIJI Airways has announced the commissioning of the national carrier’s first ever woman jet aircraft command, Captain Selai Saumi.
Managing director and CEO Andre Viljoen made the announcement at the 17th Attorney-General’s Conference at Natadola yesterday.
“This is a momentous occasion for Fiji Airways because we now have our first qualified female jet pilot with Captain Selai and this is a great achievement for Fiji Airways in our drive to get females into senior management positions in the company,” he said. Captain Saumi said earning her stripes and the pilot’s seat in the sophisticated Boeing 737 was the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
“It feels very satisfying and comes with a great deal of responsibility,” she said.
“I have so many people to thank for helping me get this far.”
Captain Saumi has earned her place in local aviation history by becoming the first ever Fijian woman to assume command on the Fiji Airways jet fleet.
She joined Fiji Airways in March 2007, and was previously a first officer on the Boeing 737 and second officer on the Boeing 767 aircraft.
Her responsibilities include teaching aircraft performance to new Boeing 737 pilots.
She is a qualified crew resource management instructor and a combined crew resource management facilitator. Her late father, Captain Nacanieli Saumi, was a Boeing 737 check and training Captain for Fiji Airways. She was educated at St Anne’s Primary School and St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva.
