(Finance) – Il Enac President, Pierluigi Di Palma, and the General Director, Alessio Quaranta, have delivered today, February 16, 2024, the “Fiorenza de Bernardi Award“, for the year 2023, to five young women pilots. The award, now in its fourth edition, was established by Enac in 2020 with the aim of celebrating young women in civil aviation and creating a bridge between the aviation sector and the female world, enhancing aeronautical culture and the educational path of many girls.
Enac wanted to dedicate this award to Commander Fiorenza de Bernardi, first Italian female airline pilot, to promote models of action and experiences that stimulate and inspire other women. In addition to being a tribute to Commander De Bernardi, the award intends to encourage young women to be increasingly protagonists in the aeronautical sector, in the awareness of the extraordinary opportunities and professional prospects that the sector can offer.
From this perspective, the event is also linked to the international day dedicated to girls and women in science – 11 February – desired by the UN precisely to encourage equal access for women in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ).
These are the prizes awarded: “Fiorenza de Bernardi” Award 2023 to Luisa Rizzo, born in 2002, the youngest to have achieved the title of World Drone Racing Champion in 2023; “Fiorenza de Bernardi” Award 2023 to Mariagrazia Cerrotta, born in 2003, the youngest to have obtained, in 2023, the PPL(H), Private Helicopter Pilot License; “Fiorenza de Bernardi” Award 2023 to Emily Russomando, born in 2006, the youngest to have obtained, in 2023, the PPL(A), Private Aircraft Pilot License; “Fiorenza de Bernardi” Award 2023 to Giorgia Peri, born in 2006, the youngest to have obtained the SFCL, Glider Pilot License, in 2023; “Fiorenza de Bernardi” Award 2023 to Nicole Dusso, born in 2005, the youngest to have obtained, in 2023, the A2 UAS license, Remote Pilot License (UAS) in the A2 subcategory.
At the moment of delivery, the President and the General Director took the opportunity to congratulate the young female pilots for the significant goals achieved and to urge them to proceed with commitment and professionalism in the world of aviation, which is increasingly projected towards the future technological innovation, intermodality and sustainability.