DIANA
GOMES DA SILVA
MEET DIANA
Her passion and determination have taken her to the skies – literally. At 21, Diana became the first and youngest Portuguese aerobatic pilot, and at 26 she was the first female airbus pilot, and these are just two of her many achievements in the cockpit.
Diana’s love for the sky came at an early age, as a young girl she wanted to study astrophysics and become an astronaut. Her interest, combined with her parents unwavering support, meant that she set her mind on her goal and at 17 she was working as a flight attendant for a few months. Shortly after, she went to university to take a BA in journalism and at the same time she started her training to become a pilot. She hasn’t come back to the ground since then, collecting accolade after accolade in the fields of aerobatics to airline flying. Having lived in the Middle East for 5 years, she combined interests to found an Etihad aerobatic school in Abu Dhabi, training pilots-to-be in mastering their control over the plane manually. The industry then followed Diana’s footsteps in making sure that every commercial airline pilot around the world has aerobatic training.
Diana is a respected figure in the aviation being not only a captain but also a person who writes and consults in the field frequently. Having pursued and achieved her dreams in a field where only 4% of women participate, she has been invited by Easy Jet to be a part of the Amy Johnson Initiative – supporting women to follow careers as pilots around the world.
Alongside her continued work in the cockpit, Diana has naturally expanded her impact beyond aviation, becoming an increasingly sought-after speaker and contributor on topics such as performance under pressure, decision-making and human behavior in complex environments. At the same time, her personal journey has evolved just as meaningfully: married and a mother of three boys, Diana embraces the challenge of balancing family life with a demanding international career. In both domains, she remains guided by the same curiosity, discipline and determination that first led her to the skies — continuing to prove that growth, for her, is not defined by limits but by the constant pursuit of what comes next.
‘Be curious. I think this is one of the keys to success in life – be curious, continue to study and continue to prepare yourself. Basically, when you love something, everything is worthy.’