Flight Sergeant Ushna Waseem (19) from 396 (Paisley) Squadron has recently completed the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme with a Flying Scholarship at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.
Ushna joined the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in 2017 at Kelvinside Academy before transferring to the Air Cadets in June 2021, where she has embraced every opportunity the organisation has to offer. She is an Instructor cadet, cadet drill instructor, has achieved a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, blue leadership badge, blue radio operators badge, attended a Regional STEM Camp, and has completed the Blue Applications of Space Technology course from the Open University.
FS Waseem said: ‘After 2 amazing weeks, I was very fortunate to achieve this scholarship with 12 hours of flying towards my Private Pilot’s License in the Piper Warrior. I even flew solo, achieving my Silver Wings. During the course I learned many different aviation techniques, both theory and practical, such as air law, radiotelephony, and circuit and emergency procedures.
‘To be able to fly solo, I also passed the solo theoretical exam. Alongside the course, I met lots of amazing people and cadets from all over the country. I am very grateful for this opportunity and the support my squadron and wing staff gave me throughout the whole process. I am especially grateful for the great lessons taught to me by my instructor Will, who was very supportive for the whole two weeks. I’m particularly glad that he believed in my competence to fly solo, even when I had no previous flying experience before I started.’
Her Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Liz McLaghlan congratulated her: ‘This is a fantastic achievement, well done to Ushna.’
Ushna has accepted an offer to study neuroscience at the University of Glasgow with the ultimate aim of doing aviation medicine.
To find out more about the Air Cadets, click here.
