All-women, around-the-Planet expedition to give wings to girls

At Wings India 2018, Aerotech FMS, a flight management company launched Mahi, a little plane with a lot of pluck, which will circumnavigate Planet Earth with an all-women civilian crew as part of a women's empowerment initiative.
 
The Colors 'Women Empower' Expedition, conceived and managed by Social Access Communications, a not-for-profit communications firm, will be attempted with the Sinus 912 motor-glider weighing less than 500 kg. The feat, already termed as an extraordinary attempt of exemplary courage, mental agility, and an aero-sport adventure, will attempt a world record.
 
Mahi will fly across 22 countries taking the message of women's empowerment and spearhead a unique crowd-funding campaign - the 'WE! Udaan Scholarship' to champion, enable and empower underprivileged Indian girls living in the Udan regional connectivity centres, who want to learn and earn from flying.
 
Syeda Salva Fatima, daughter of a poverty-stricken bakery worker from an impoverished neighbourhood of Sultan Shahi in the old city here, is today one of India's first four hijab-wearing Muslim women to hold a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Fatima's story of "I want to be a pilot" changed into reality despite many odds and helped attain her life's ambition.
 
She found a mentor to support her dream in Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of Siasat, who along with other philanthropists helped Fatima enrol at the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy in 2007. Five years later, Fatima completed her training at the Academy, logging 200 hours of flying in a Cessna 152 aircraft and 123 hours of solo flight.

Dedication, hard work
Moved by her story of persistence, the Telangana government announced financial assistance of Rs 36 lakh for Fatima's multi-engine training and type-rating. Dogged by odds repeatedly, Fatima persisted in her training, obtaining her Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in 2013, followed by simulator training in New Zealand and type-rating on Airbus training at the Gulf Aviation Academy in Bahrain.
 
"Have a clear goal and positive thinking. Dedication and hard work don't go waste," is Fatima's message to girls with dreams like her. Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, inspected the motor-glider and congratulated the all-women team and expressed his support to the mission.