These women have soaring ambitions as they become commercial pilots

Raven Macalindong and Khansa Ayyaz are two women from different backgrounds, who share the same ambitious dream to take to the skies.

They're students at the Fanshawe College Norton Wolf School of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, studying Commercial Flight and Aviation Leadership. They are among 11 students who recently received scholarships from Women in Aviation International, an organization that helps more women move into leadership positions to advance global aviation and the aerospace industry.

For Ayyaz, she will become the first woman in her family to earn her wings.

"Growing up, my dad flew for an airline in Pakistan," she said. "I also have a lot of my uncles and cousins that were into aviation as well."

As a hijabi Muslim, Ayyaz said she's faced her share of pushback over her career ambitions.

"Obviously, there are so many religious aspects to it, where people are just like, 'Oh, you're a Muslim girl. Muslim girls don't do careers like that or even have a career,' right? Because, for women, we're always told that we're supposed to stay at home and be in the kitchen and men are supposed to provide."

According to the latest statistics from Transport Canada, male pilots outnumber female pilots 12 to one in Canada.

Ayyaz said she even ended a serious relationship because her future mother-in-law wouldn't accept her goals to become a pilot.

"This is like a dream for me. It's my passion and I believe that women should be able to do anything that they put their mind to, especially if it's in aviation. There should be more women being pilots," adding she hopes becoming a pilot will inspire other women to pursue a career in aviation.

Ayyaz also credits her late grandma for always encouraging her to become a pilot.

LISTEN | Khansa Ayyaz and Raven Macalindong join Afternoon Drive host Allison Devereaux to talk about their future in the sky:

Macalindong's passion for flying stems from her love of travelling and wanting to give back to her mom.

"I love travelling a lot, but I didn't get to do it as often because I'm have a single mom," she said. "My mom has sacrificed a lot for me, and I wanted to give back to her."

She said she's planning to bring her mom along on her future flights around the globe, with the goal of making it to her mom's choice of Cape Town, South Africa one day.

"[My mom] doesn't pressure me or anything, she just tells me to do what I like, love, or do what I want to do and what makes me happy," said Macalindong.

Ayyaz and Macalindong are set to graduate next spring and say they one day hope to fly for Emirates or Qatar Airways.

"They're two of the best airlines right now in the world," said Macalindong. "Their fleet is very beautiful and I want to take my mom in their aircraft."

The pair are set to graduate from Fanshawe College next year.