The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has inducted its first female fighter pilot on Thursday, the last day of Women's Month, another achievement for greater gender equality.
First Lieutenant Jul Laiza Mae Camposano-Beran was qualified to fly the SIAI-Marchetti AS-211 light jet combat aircraft, which the PAF also uses in attack and surveillance missions.
"She knows how to fight in air-to-air, in air-to-ground, air-to-surface in the AS-211. That is something that most of the female pilots before na dumaan sa AS-211 na hindi sila nakaranas," PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said.
Beran who comes from the PAF's 5th Fighter Wing stationed at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, has earned 150 plus hours in flying the AS-211.
She took around two years in training to ensure that she will not only know how to fly the aircraft, but will also allow her to learn about fighting in air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-surface missions.
"And while doing this, she was also flying with the FA-50 as a backseat pilot and (becoming) combat experience having flown in the FA-50 on an actual strike mission," he added.
She also gained around 180 flying hours in the two propeller-driven aircraft before graduating in 2017. She is a native of Tulunan, Cotabato and a member of the Philippine Military Academy.
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