US Coast Guard pilot Sidonie Bosin is the first female aviation officer in charge of air crews in the Antarctic.[206] Ayesha Farooq becomes Pakistan's first "war-ready female fighter pilot."[207] Vernice Armour becomes the first African American combat pilot to fly during the Iraq War.[30] Susan Mashibe of Tanzania founds Via Aviation as a fixed-base operator to support business jets and assist African clients with flight options, which don't require commercial air services and routing through Europe.[208][209] Khoo Teh Lynn becomes Singapore's first fighter pilot.[210] Ramona Palabrica-Go, the first female pilot in the Philippine Army, becomes the commanding officer of the Army Aviation Battalion.[211] Astrid Deira became the first woman pilot of Surinam.[212] January 10: The Brazilian Air Force opens up positions to women. There were 20 aviation slots and 150 women applied.[213] August: Cheryl Stearns completes her 15,560th skydive, putting her at the "record for the most parachute jumps by a woman."