March 8th: Women Taking Off

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we share the story of Nicole Tironi, a very young pilot trained at Cantor Air Flight School, who received the Fiorenza de Bernardi Award from ENAC. An important recognition that celebrates not only her personal achievement, but also the evolution of the aviation sector, where more and more women are choosing to pursue a career in flight.

More and More Women Choosing a Career as Pilots

In recent years, the number of women deciding to become pilots has been steadily increasing. More and more women begin their journey by obtaining a Private Pilot License PPL (A) and then continue toward professional licenses such as CPL (A) and ATPL (A). At our flight school, this change is visible every day: the presence of female students is growing and brings with it preparation, discipline and strong motivation. This year, however, we have an additional reason to celebrate.

Nicole Tironi: A Very Young PPL (A) Pilot

Nicole Tironi, born on March 11, 2008, obtained her Private Pilot License PPL (A) on November 8, 2025 at our Cantor Air Flight School. She began this journey while still attending high school, managing a demanding schedule: mornings at school and afternoons dedicated to theory lessons, mission planning, flight training and study. A path that requires discipline, responsibility and technical preparation, but above all passion. Nicole faced this challenge with determination, successfully obtaining her license in a short time despite balancing high school and flight training. Her journey received an important recognition on March 3, 2026, when she was invited to Rome, at the headquarters of ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority), to receive the Fiorenza de Bernardi Award.

The Fiorenza de Bernardi Award

The award, dedicated to the memory of Captain Fiorenza de Bernardi — the first female airline pilot in Italy — aims to promote role models and paths of excellence capable of inspiring more women to pursue a career in aviation. Established by ENAC, the award does not celebrate symbolic gestures, but concrete achievements: competence, training and milestones reached along the aeronautical journey.
In this context, Nicole received the award in 2026 for being the youngest pilot in 2025 to obtain the Private Pilot License PPL (A).

We Asked Her a Few Questions

✈️ You started your PPL while still in high school. Was it difficult to balance everything? It wasn’t easy. Right after school I attended PPL theory lessons, and on my free days I also had flight training. I had to study both for the license and for school exams and tests, so managing everything was definitely challenging.

✈️ Nicole, how did you feel when you received the invitation to Rome? When I read the email and discovered that I was the youngest girl in 2025 to obtain the PPL (A), I was surprised and incredibly happy. It was a great satisfaction for all the sacrifices made.

✈️ What does the word “pilot” mean to you today? For me, the word “pilot” means responsibility and passion. It’s not just about flying, but about constantly improving yourself every day.

✈️ What message would you give to girls who are thinking about becoming pilots? I would tell them not to limit themselves and to truly believe in their dreams. With commitment and determination, it’s possible to go far, even in a world that may sometimes seem difficult.

Female Presence in Aeronautical Training

At an international level, women currently represent about 5–6% of airline pilots. The number is still relatively small, but it has been steadily increasing in recent years. In aeronautical training, however, the percentage is higher. Even in the programs active at our school — from the first PPL (A) license to professional licenses such as CPL (A) and ATPL (A) — the number of female students has grown significantly. In the most recent programs launched by Cantor Air, female students represent around 20% of enrolments, distributed across all phases of the training path.

March 8th and the Evolution of the Aviation Sector

March 8th is also an opportunity to observe the evolution taking place within the aviation world. In recent years, more and more women have chosen to start a journey in aviation and to pursue the entire training path leading to professional qualifications. Aviation remains a highly technical and selective environment, where requirements, responsibilities and standards are the same for everyone.
What truly makes the difference is preparation, commitment, consistency and above all the passion with which each future pilot approaches their journey. International Women’s Day therefore becomes an opportunity to look at the future of aviation with a new perspective — a future in which more and more women choose to take the controls and pursue this path with determination and passion.

Stories like Nicole’s tell part of this evolution. But every day, in the classrooms and cockpits of our school, more and more women are deciding to chart their own course in aviation — and we couldn’t be prouder.

The Future of Aviation Is Inclusive — and It Is Already Flying
 ✈️ Would you like to become a pilot too? Discover more in the section dedicated to how to become a pilot.