Breaking barriers: Rachel Gilmour, the world's youngest female captain

According to British media, Rachel Gilmour from Scotland at just 26 years old matched Kate McWilliams' 2019 record, becoming the youngest female captain of commercial airlines. Rachel works at Loganair.

Because of her youthful looks, Rachel is frequently mistaken for a cabin crew member. In a conversation with The Telegraph, she explained that such assumptions often stem from persistent stereotypes portraying pilots as predominantly male. Despite this, she highlighted that her team and colleagues have always treated her respectfully and offered unwavering support, never making derogatory comments.

Although the number of female pilots is increasing, they still make up only about six percent of pilots worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the number of licences for women increased by 26 percent between 2019 and 2023.

Rachel aims to set an example for girls aspiring to work in aviation. She openly acknowledges that reaching this goal requires ambition and dedication, as the training process and licensing exams are particularly demanding. She stressed the importance of determination to overcome these challenges. Additionally, she explained that in the cockpit, the captain is positioned on the left and the first officer on the right. Though they operate as a team, the captain is ultimately responsible for making final decisions. Taking on this role, she noted, involves stepping into a position of significant responsibility and facing considerable pressure.

Rachel shared that her longstanding passion for travel played a key role in her decision to pursue an aviation career, which she felt was the ideal path for her. She also pointed out that while flight paths may remain consistent, changing weather and flight conditions make every journey a unique experience.