Pilot Shaesta Waiz will take off from Daytona International Airport in her single-engine A36 Beechcraft Bonanza on May 13 for a 90-day solo flight around the globe. Along the way, she will make 30 stops in 18 countries on five continents. But the flight’s stops are about more than simply resting and refueling. The 29-year-old will also share her incredible life story while promoting the importance of science, technology, engineering and math to young women and men throughout the world.
Born in a refugee camp, Waiz emigrated to America with her family in 1987 to escape the Soviet-Afghan war. In becoming the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan, Waiz attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was also the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. At ERAU she created the Women’s Ambassador Program to mentor and support young women with a passion for aviation that led to the creation of her Dreams Soar program.
In addition to speaking alongside strong, influential female figures at each of her stops, Waiz will raise money to provide scholarships for young people seeking education in aviation and STEM-related fields. Her route will be live-updated on the Dreams Soar website thanks to Flight Aware, and Waiz’s adventure can also be followed on the Dreams Soar Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
