Naoual Ait Hammou Overcomes Obstacles to Pursue her Pilot Career

Naoual Ait Hammou, a female pilot captain who broke gender barriers and challenged stereotypes in the male-dominated world of aviation, deserves special recognition for her achievements in light of International Women’s Day. Born In 1973 in Rabat, Hammou grew up with a passion for flying.

After attending Moulay Youssef’s high school and preparatory classes in maths and physics, Hammou enrolled in the National School of line pilots (ENPL). After her graduation, she was hired by the Royal Air Maroc as a pilot officer. Through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, Hammou eventually rose through the ranks to become a captain pilot at the Moroccan Royal Airlines.

However, Hammou’s professional journey was not always easy, as she faced significant challenges in her career, particularly during her training program at ENPL. Unfortunately, her program coincided with the Gulf crises in the 90s, which resulted in a recession in the air transport industry and a lack of demand for pilots. Consequently, her four-year training program extended to 10 years.

Despite the setback, Hammou was determined to make the most of her time and enrolled in the law faculty at Mohammed V University of Rabat. Her passion for the courses inspired her to continue her studies until she eventually earned her PhD.

Hammou experienced more than one setback, including a significant challenge during the Covid crisis which had a profound impact on the aviation industry.

Despite previously being a pilot officer, Hammou was unable to fly frequently during the pandemic, which presented a difficult situation for her. However, she, along with the entire aviation industry, persevered through the crisis and eventually resumed flights.

In fact, Hammou played a major role within Royal Moroccan Airlines during the pandemic as she contributed to the repatriation of compatriots stranded abroad. Hammou stated in an interview with news outlet Aujourd’hui le Maroc that she was moved to see passengers kneeling and kissing the ground of their country after disembarking and that it was a moment of pride to realize her job was dedicated to serving the interest of the country and the citizens.

Women in aviation, a flight to gender diversity

As a male-dominated industry, aviation has been deeply impacted by women throughout history. The number of women employees is steadily growing as they make significant contributions to the field.

Women have been involved in the history of flight since its beginning, some of the most famous pilots are women, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Blanche Stuart Scott, and the list goes on.

During World War II, women played a crucial role in the aviation industry as a huge number of man pilots were called to serve in the military, and women were recruited to work with aircraft factories as pilots, mechanics, and aerospace engineers among other roles. But due to gender bias and discrimination, their accomplishments have often been minimalized and overlooked.

Female pioneers in aviation such as Naoual Ait Hammou are continuing to make progress in the male-heavy industry by breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting inclusivity.

Women who hold leadership positions within the field serve as role models and inspire confidence in young women, demonstrating that they can excel in traditionally male-dominated domains. These pioneers are paving the way for future generations of girls to be inspired, dream big, and pursue their passions in aviation.