The world's youngest aircraft commander: "They mistake me for a flight attendant" (4 photos)

Rachel Gilmour may look like a schoolgirl, but she's already a pilot. The Scotswoman has broken the record set by Kate McWilliams in 2019, becoming the youngest female pilot-in-command at 26.





Rachel told the Telegraph: "People like to label people, but I'm definitely one of the youngest female pilots in the world."

Her youth often raises eyebrows on Scottish airline Loganair.

Many people mistake her for a flight attendant, which she puts down to “a simple stereotype about gender roles”. She adds: “Especially in winter, when I put my jumper on, there’s nothing about me that gives away that I’m a commander.”



Rachel says the cabin crew are understanding: “I’m very supported by my crew and my colleagues, and nothing [demeaning] has ever been said to me.”

There are only 6 per cent of female pilots worldwide.

Gilmour is determined to be a role model for young girls aspiring to enter the industry.

In the UK, cost is a barrier to becoming a pilot. With training costs around £100,000, aviation remains a dream for many.

“I knew I wanted something dynamic. I love travelling and I knew as a teenager that aviation was the right thing for me,” Rachel admits. “But you have to be determined. The exams are very tough.”

Her hard work paid off and she became a captain at just 26 – just five years over the legal minimum age for commercial pilots.

In the cockpit, Rachel explains, there are two seats: the captain on the left and the first officer on the right. Although they work together, it is the captain who bears the final responsibility.

“There are tough decisions to make,” she says.





Despite all the challenges, Rachel's favourite flight remains the spectacular Glasgow to Stornoway flight over the Outer Hebrides.

"There's nothing like flying over the sea on a clear sunny day. Even though the routes are always the same, the weather conditions make each flight unique."

She even invited her parents along for the scenic route to Stornoway. "It was a special moment," she says. “No matter how much I tell them about my work, they will only truly understand when they see it for themselves.”