Female pilot Le Thi Bich Hong, born in 1985, has become the first female Vietnamese captain of Jetstar Pacific Airlines.

Le Thi Bich Hong (L) becomes first female Vietnamese captain of Jetstar Pacific Airlines (Source: sggp.org)

Hong had experience as a deputy captain in four years before the August 1 promotion.

The budget carrier now has 41 Vietnamese pilots. According to regulations, after an official training course, each pilot has to experience 150 flight hours before becoming a deputy captain. To be a captain, the pilot accumulates at least 4,000 flight hours and passes a test which meets international standards.

Jetstar Pacific, whose two major shareholders are Vietnam Airlines and Australia-based Qantas Group, operates flights between 16 destinations in Vietnam and 180 others in 18 countries around the world. –VNA