Asnake Alem

Pioneer Ethiopian female aviator who broke gender and racial barriers in aviation

Asnake Alem (1920-1998) was East Africa's first female pilot and a trailblazer for women in aviation. Starting in the 1940s, she became the first African woman to earn a commercial pilot's license, flying for Ethiopian Airlines during a time when fewer than 1% of pilots globally were women. Alem's 1953 solo flight across the Red Sea to Yemen made international headlines, showcasing her navigation skills in challenging conditions. She later trained over 200 African aviation personnel through her Flying School for Women, established in Addis Ababa in 1965. Alem's advocacy led to Ethiopia's first air traffic control system and inspired generations of female engineers. Read about her achievements in Wikipedia or explore her memoir 《Soaring Through the Sky》. Her story is featured in the documentary 《Wings of Ethiopia》.