B.W.P.A.

[Penguina]

Hello,

Being British, a woman and a pilot I thought maybe I should join BWPA. However, I'm having big problems getting hold of a form - the one you download from the website won't print, the e-mail address doesn't work, haven't been able to get through on the phone and I wrote to them a couple of weeks ago but have had no reply.

Am beginning to detect a hidden message here!!! :ugh: :{ (My passport clearly shows that I'm a British woman, so it must be the pilot bit that's in dispute... figures!)

Any existing members able to help?

Peng

[Windy Militant]

Try dropping a PM to Whirlybird if she doesn't pick up on this.
I'm fairly certain that she's a member of the BWPA ;)

[CSX001]

Penguina

I too am British, a woman and a pilot, but have never felt the desire to join the BWPA. I am sure that they are a fine bunch of women but I don't see the point of getting together with people purely on the sole basis of a chromosome.

Flying Lawyers, Flying Farmers, PPL/IRs and even Flying Pigs I understand completely. But Flying wimmin? :D No offence intended to the BWPA but why?


Charlie.

[Circuit Basher]

(Sorry to barge in on this conversation, not being medically equipped to appear intelligent on the subject!! ;)).

My niece got an Air League scholarship to get her started towards a PPL and then got BWPA sponsorship to complete her PPL (I was wondering whether I could get in wearing a Jock frock :) - sorry MJ!). There is thus some benefit in BWPA membership! If you wanted to go for more ratings, Penguina, then they may be able to help. My niece is currently doing a university language training year in Germany, so I can't readily call her, but if you have no luck in other routes, I'll see whether she's checking her emails!

Now, boys - for a real mens conversation about flying..... :p :D :ouch:

[Penguina]

Charlie,

Dunno why myself - suppose it began when there weren't many flying wimmin around and they needed solidarity not to look like individual freak shows? Less relevant now, but they have men in their numbers too these days.

My personal interest is really just wanting to meet as many people who share my interests as possible and maybe get advice or whatever from time to time - they seem to be a fairly unique organisation and I don't think there's one without 'women' in its name that does exactly the same thing.

Haven't investigated AOPA very thoroughly, admittedly, but it seems a lot more geared towards owners (which I won't be able to afford to be for a long time!) and private pilots with no further ambitions (which I'm not). Also, it seems larger and less personal and therefore of limited use. And other more intimate societies are for specialist interests that I don't have (yet).

However, if I remember rightly, this impression is based mainly on a Pilot or Flyer (can't remember which) article some time back and may be hideously inaccurate, so any info on this also is welcome.

(Edit - yes, and Circuit Basher 's reason was the other thing, but I wasn't going to mention that!)

[Pink_aviator]

HI PENGUINA
I applied weeks ago on some ones advice(I couldn't download it either )
I have only just recieved an application form and am holding back from sending it as i want to join as a PPL and not a student,but if I do not pull my finger out then I may miss the christmas do,and I love dos and eating .
(oh yes and the cameraderie and flying tales etc )
They do not seem to have a phone number,but if you are still stuck PM me and I will send you the contact address.

PINK-AVIATOR

[Flyin'Dutch']

Penguina,

Some years ago I subbed my wife to BWPA and I enjoyed reading their magazine.

Unfortunately my wife then kept on getting pregnant so the piloting bit which I would be very keen for her to undertake has not materialised yet. She is going to do the Safety Pilot course as soon as the smallest (latest and last) bandit allows. Would be a shame for her not to be able to fly the machine to safety after I have my MI and leave those life insurance policies uncashed!

However one of my flying mateys is well landed and possesses the XX chromosomes and thinks very much along Charlie's lines.

I personally quite like clubs and having a meeting with likeminded people so can see the attraction. From what I remember they are quite happy for blokes to join in their meetings so nothing too nepotistic.

Why not give it a go? If you dont like it you can always unsub.

With regards to AOPA I see what you are saying. They together with BGA/PFA/BMAA and others represent us GA folk and fight our corner. Direct benefits are sometimes a bit difficult to discern but I would encourage anyone to join at least one of them so that our voice can be heard a bit stronger.

Ciao

FD

[flyingfemme]

BWPA organise some nice social events; visits of aviation interest as well as meals, competitions etc.

I am a member but never seem to get to things:(

[Whirlybird]

Penguina,
PM me your address and I'll send you a form.

Pink_aviator,
I did the same as you - waited till I got my PPL so I could join as a full member not an associate. But in reality there's no difference, and no-one will know what you are. The Christmas Lunch is lots of fun, and you need to book by sometime soon, so it might be worth joining now.

I've got a lot out of the BWPA. I joined because I'd heard they had good social events, and I thought I might find people to fly with. Very soon afterwards they arranged the first Chairwoman's Challenge Trophy, a kind of mini Dawn to Dusk, designed to encourage low hours pilots. With no idea what I was doing, I entered...and won! I collected my trophy at the Christmas Lunch, and somehow got talking about the Dawn to Dusk with a much more experienced pilot. To cut a long story short, we entered that together the next year and came fifth, then won it outright in 2001!!! We've since flown to Ireland and the Highlands together, and have plans for flying in Europe sometime. An article in the BWPA magazine on "a CPL later in life" spurred me on to give that a go. Then when I was considering a North Sea flying job, one of the BWPA members who flew helicopters there invited me to stay and for a couple of trips out to the rigs. Another member is useful for legal advice. In fact, now i come to think about it, I doubt I'd have done half the things I've done in aviation without the BWPA. And by the way, the social events are good too. :ok:

I could argue as to why they are or aren't a good idea, but I'll do that better when it's not so late. :) And I don't actually care about the philosophical stuff, since I find them a very useful organisation - and fun too. I'm a PFA member as well, and I belong to the Helicopter Club of Great Britain - but I get much more out of the BWPA than either of those.

[essouira]

Hi - Have been away so missed the beginning of this thread. I have been a member of the BWPA for a few years. The newsletter/magazine is usually good and some of the events I have been to have been excellent. You can pick and choose which are for you - I probably go on average about three times a year. I've met some really interesting fellow pilots though - and the European Federation is a good chance to make contact with women in other countries. I think there are still issues for women in aviation - for example BWPA is a good contact point for girls who may be considering a career but are not sure how it would be to be in an industry of mostly men. I for one liked having the contact with other female pilots when I was doing my commercial training and was the only woman on some of my courses. It's also good at lobbying, getting articles in newspapers/magazines etc which encourage women to get involved in aviation. I think the BWPA is still necessary when, for example, 99% of new people coming along to our flying school are male. Often a woman will come along with a boyfriend/husband who is having a trial lesson and needs a fair amount of encouragement (often better coming from another female) before she will consider trying it out for herself. I'm sorry that earlier ppruners had difficulty in contacting the BWPA - the address is via Brooklands but I will pass on messages if anyone wants.

[Whirlybird]

I emailed a link to this thread to the BWPA chairman. She said she doesn't know why there are problems downloading the form; she tried it and it's fine. They are having problems with emails - very long story. Mail to Brooklands gets forwarded frequently, so probably best way to contact them. I too can always pass on messages if anyone wants, and I also have spare membership forms that I can send.

[mad_jock]

CB I presume its a bit like a masonic lodge when you join.

But instead of having to bare your chest you have to bare your arse to make sure its not hairy.

I think its a very good idea actually.

But they don't seem to promote themselves very well. You hardly ever see posters etc kicking around flying schools.

A few years ago in diving some off the ladys got pissed off with blokes in diving and started up dive girl

http://www.divegirl.com/

Now its read by alot of blokes myself included. And as a scottish dry suit diver myself I hope this shagging under water lark dosn't catch on.

MJ

[Whirlybird]

mad jock,
But they don't seem to promote themselves very well. You hardly ever see posters etc kicking around flying schools.


If any of the BWPA committee see that they'll probably cry. :{ :{ :{ It's an ongoing problem for a small organisation that's permanently short of funds, relies on vountary workers, and doesn't want to raise membership fees. The BWPA Gazette is sent out once yearly to every flying school/club in the country. They SHOULD be there!!! Posters are expensive - would schools put them up? I personally think it would be money well spent, but I'm not the Treasurer. :eek:

Word of mouth seems to be the way that most women hear about the BWPA. One of our newer members heard about it from her (male) flying instructor. So, MJ...... Of course, PPRuNe is a good way too. :ok: But any other ideas for promotions or publicity that don't cost lots will be passed on, I guarantee it.

[mad_jock]

Have you thought about send an email to all flying schools in the UK with a A4 poster attached?

Do one in colour and one in B&W. With web address etc on it.

Or email to club membership secs asking them to forward on to the female members.


Most of the large flyin's are done this way and we always used to print them and then stuck them up.

The only other way i can think of is relying on your current members to always take a handful of flyers and app forms whenever they do a land away. And spread the word that way.

MJ

[Penguina]

Hello, thanks everyone for the comments and Whirly in particular for offer of (now unnecessary) PM.

The letter I sent did arrive, but there were delays caused by holiday and things. Anyway, I'm now a signed up member and hope I can make it to the xmas do if possible. Hope to meet some of you in the flesh then maybe.

Also got an e-mail from Tricia Nelmes welcoming me. I expect, if she's seen this thread, they've worked out which new member this ppruner is by now!

I fuond out about them through an advert somewhere I think, or an article. Could it even have been in GASIL??? Nah, maybe not. Anyway, it wasn't word of mouth, as when I learned to fly, there was no one in my life but my instructor I could talk to about flying. That has changed now... :)

[Whirlybird]

Penguina,

Tricia didn't mention you...but she had worked out which new member was pink-aviator!!! Your reputation goes before you pinkster. :) :)

See you at the Christmas do, Penguina.