Gay Pilots?

[Pink Pilot]

Hi, ok so i am Gay, are there many other Gay pilots out there?
Whats it like to be a Gay pilot and work for an airline? should i keep my sexuality secret?

[The Guvnor]

I prophesise an early move of this thread to Jetblast ... which would be a shame, as there should be nothing wrong with one's sexual orientation.

I know a couple of gay pilots (and a lot of gay cabin crew!) - and they are first class individuals. Unfortunately, they take a lot of stick from some of their less enlightened colleagues.

[HotDog]

Shamrock 2 was advised by Dublin Approach to deviate to the right. So the Captain went down on the First Officer. :) ;) :)

[Pink Pilot]

My posting is of a serious nature, I am worried that my sexuality might harm my chances with the airlines, just wondered if there are any other guys or gals out there in the same position who could advise. please do not move to jet blast as this is not to be taken as some joke.

[Twistedfirefighter]

There is an airline in the UK, who's chief pilot is gay. So there!

[redsnail]

wind up.

[Eastwest Loco]

Gay pilots are surely the same as gay cabin crew - with one great distinguishing factor. Excellent customer contact skills.

Sexual orientation means doodly squat when it comes down to it.

Why is it the gays seem better at presenting themselves to the public in general as a representation of their airline??

Maybe the straight guys and girls could learn something here.

Pink Power mate - I am straight - but would most likely lean towards gay staff - If I knew - and would subconciously select yourself and your peers simply on attitude. You simply tend to present and perform better.

Do NOT change!!

Best regards

EWL

[Honest Frank]

You said that you dont want your sexuality to ruin your chances with the airlines.
Well how can it unless you walk into interview and shake the interviewers hand with "good morning, my name is **** and I'm gay!"

And I cant remember seeing on any application forms- sexual preferences!

So just get on with it instead of trying to find a reason already for future rejections.

It makes me mad when people try to find excuses based on their preferences or origins etc................

[Positive Climb]

"journalist alert"

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"After V1, we'll take the emergency into the air - You call 'Positive Climb' and I'll ask for the gear up. We'll climb away at V2 +15"

[Capt Claret]

I'd be taking a close look at the big red letters at the bottom of the page!

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bottums up !

[Pink Pilot]

Thanx EWL for those encouraging words.

I would like to point out that i am NOT a pen pushing jurno!! I am a pilot going through my flying training at the moment looking for my big break into the airlines soon. Though JAR is such a bloody mess that it may take some time, as i said before i was just interested to see if there were any others like me out there and if they could give me good advise!!

[whosyourdaddy]

Pink Pilot, I am not gay but trust me, if I was going to jail,you'd be the man I'd be taking with me!!!

[Speedbrake UP]

I hope this is a wind up! None of the gay people I know feel that their sexual orientation is a handicap.

[wannabeetwo]

.....there sure are other wannabees like you about....me! I don't intend to disclose my leanings, just like a straight person wouldn't. It shouldn't be an issue, and I'm not going to make it one.

Drop me a line here if you want to exchange stories.

[HotDog]

Now why should a straight person disclose his or her leanings? After all, straight=majority=normal in my book. I have nothing against gays but only stating a fact which has been said thousands of years ago.

Genesis 19:5:
"Bring them out to us that we may know them".

Leviticus 18:22:
" You shall not lie with a male as those who lie with a female; it is an abomination".

Leviticus 20:30:
" If a man lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination and they shall surely be put to death".

WOW!!

[Capt PPRuNe]

Been discussed many times on here already. As it isn't what I would categorise as rumour or news I'm moving it to Aircrew Notices if anyone wants to carry on the discussion.

This noticie is solely so the conspiracy theorists and extreme left wing advocates don't accuse me of censorship or prevention of free speech.

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Capt PPRuNe
aka Danny Fyne
The Professional Pilots RUmour NEtwork

[Sensible]

You have forgotten the PC otherwise known as the politicaly correct brigade, they are the force to be reconed with these days.

[geardown3greens]

PINK PILOT:

If your application to an airline was rejected due to your sexuality, you would never need to work again! Think about it! I'm sure the interview board would think of an alternative reason for the rejection. Anyway, I haven't read any threads from black pilots, so what's the big deal? I wouldn't walk into a room and say, "Hi, my name is Steve and I'm straight" or give myself the user name on here as blue pilot, so drop the attitude before you start. Anyway, as you haven't passed your JAA ATPLs yet, I suggest you spend less time on here and more time with your books.

And as for HOTDOG, I agree. As I always say, God made Adam and Eve. Not, Adam and Steve!

[Flintstone]

I thought we'd established that God doesn't exist?

[Wrong Stuff]

Hi Pink Pilot,

Reading through this thread, looks like it's not something to advertise. Still seem to be lots of bigots around. I have nothing against people like pilots who work Sundays but only stating a fact which has been said thousands of years ago.

Exodus 35:2:
"For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death."

[Edited just to point out that this is supposed to be ironic but it didn't come across very well. The bible disapproves of many things we take as normal and approves of others we now consider unacceptable. If you really believe that gays are "evil" because it says so in the bible, you should be equally condemning of anyone who works Sundays - such as many pilots. If you happily work (or worked) Sundays it's hypocritical to self-righteously quote the bible.]


[This message has been edited by Wrong Stuff (edited 13 March 2001).]

[Diesel8]

Lots of death going around, nice God you people keep.

I really have no problem with someones sexual preferences, just don't stick them in my face and tell me I am weird for being straight.

Best of luck with your endeavour.

D8

[fireflybob]

If we going to make Biblical quotes then perhaps we should remember the 2nd commandment (funny they didn't call it the ten "suggestions", eh?) - "Love Thy Neighbour As Thyself"
Some of the best crew members (flight deck and cabin crew) I have ever worked alongside have been gay.
The younger generation seem to be much more open minded when it comes to matters of sexual orientation.
The only comment I would really make is that there is no need or advantage to flaunt the fact.
Society seems to be becoming less tolerant and Christ, to a large extent, preached tolerance and unconditional love.
However, you have to be realistic and face the fact that some people are anti-gay and at the interview stage it might not be productive to be open about such matters.

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[euroboy]

Hi Pink Pilot
I`m cabin crew here and have flown for a few year now. I`m not sure why you are concern about being gay, as it isn`t an issue. Why discuss it the subject at work as st8s don`t discuss what they get up to in the "bedroom".
The application form misses out the question what do you fancy? M or F
I have never had any problem with f/d and have even been asked if I have kids. Don`t be camp just be you and others who work along side you need not know, if you decide to shout about it you may p**s off the whole crew. Most people are interested in you not your prefered sexual partner. I use to be an SEP/Security trainer and not only for cabin crew, but also f/d. I had no problems in the classroom environment.

There is NO issue here, there is more to a person than there sexual preference.

Just be excellent at your job-fly those planes and land em gentle.

You may like to look at www.crewstart.com (http://www.crewstart.com) they have a gay bulletin board.
Best of Luck


[This message has been edited by euroboy (edited 13 March 2001).]

[This message has been edited by euroboy (edited 13 March 2001).]

[1 of many]

Well Pink Pilot if this is kosher (I believe it is) I would also wonder if it would hurt your chances.

Any piece of employment legislation that has to be written down in such detail means its usually necessary.

I used to be homophobic and wanted to punch 'poofters' - basically because I was ignorant and didn't know any.

Then I met some and they were nice guys, their sexuality was their own business, they didn't lay it on being camp etc.

Personally, whilst its most definitely not my book, I have no problem with it, it does not affect your ability to fly whatsoever.

However, despite the law and company policy, it most definitely can affect individuals' attitudes. Those same individuals may be on the interview panel, so my advice is to keep your views to yourself at interviews - straight people don't mention sexuality, so don't you.

After you are employed, its entirely up to you. Some people will be aggressive, some indifferent, we are all just people.

Good luck.

[Variable]

www.ngpa.org (http://www.ngpa.org)

[HotDog]

Don't waste your time by looking at the above site unless you are gay!

[flapsforty]

Pink Pilot,
The last really big discussion on this that I can remeber on this, was done around June last year. Link is:

http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/Forum4/HTML/002179-3.html

"Proper" discussion starts around page 3. If you really want to know what fellow people in the industry think, go and have a look.

[PaulDeGearup]

Hotdog,

Your Ops Manual sure is one strict mother of a book ! Your DFO Leviticus doesn't mince (SIC) his words and your CP Exodus seems to say all the right things but shaft (SIC ) the crews when he needs flights crewed on Sunday !

Pinkie, ignoring the banter, don't worry mate, if you can fly your sexuality, it doesn't matter. How you perform on the flightdeck not the bedroom is what counts. I'm not gay but I wouldn't want my bedroom performance, or lack of it, taken in to account when job hunting. Good Luck.

[HotDog]

I think Elal got a lot of stick from the orhtodox Jewish lobby about flying on the Sabbath? The Bible is not really my Ops Manual, all I was trying to convey to Pink Pilot is to stop bragging about his sexual preferences and just get on with his life in the air or where ever. In other words, stop advertising; like Variable orifice, surreptitiously promoting the gay aviation site. I'm surprised Danny didn't nip that in the bud.

[cart tart 1]

the only people who make a big thing about gay pilots are gay pilots themselves most of us couldnt care less

[cobaltfrog]

I never knew the Archbish of Cantab was a PPruner!!

[Dipsy]

Pink Pilot - I hope your initial post was serious so hopefully I'm not wasting my time with a serious reply. As someone who was once in your position I chose to keep my sexuality quiet at work for years. Eventually I found myself working for a friendly small airline, got my command and decided it was time for the big outing at work. There were many reasons behind the decision - felt I was being untruthful to collegues who were now friends, fed up of being asked about girlfriends and worse being set up on dates by well meaning cabin crew. I also felt secure with the airline. Someone has already made the point here that your sexuality is a bigger issue to you than it is to everyone else and I have to totally agree with that. I decided to go and tell my chief pilot before the gossip got out at work and he made the same point. I was in someways lucky that I had great support from friends and family and the response from collegues both from the flight deck and cabin was superb. You're very lucky in the airline world that if anyone does give you hassle for being gay, just let the cabin crew know and make sure you don't eat or drink anything destined for that person!! At the end of the day its up to you what you do. My advice for what its worth is to let people get to know you first and settle into whatever airline, I know it can be hard for a while but in the end you will know if you feel that you will be accepted.

[Pink Pilot]

Thanx dipsy for the very sound and comforting advice, i look foward to a long and happy career with an airline in the hope that i can be accepted as you have, i will be keeping quiet for the time being about my sexuality.

Also thanx to the other guys and gals on here who have offered support, and to those who are so narrow minded and bigoted not to understand that we are human too, please get educated.

[astronaut]

Hi Pink Pilot

Although i'm not a pilot, but i'm gay it's not a good thing to make a big issue of your sexuality, basically as any "normal" str8 person would not announce "Hi i'm str8" at the interview or on the first day. I think being gay is a worry basically from the social side of work, such as being fixed up with people, feeling you have to respond to a "look at the knockers on her" type comment, or hiding away a significant other while in the closet. If you feel comfortable make the step, but don't do the whole screaming from the rooftops thing as it may come across as a little OTT!

Anyway good luck with it whatever you decide.

[This message has been edited by astronaut (edited 16 March 2001).]

[far cue]

Hey PINKY

What's wrong with you poofters???

Why do always have to rub it in our faces???

I don't care what you are, JUST DON'T BOTHER TELLING ME!!!

Who gave your lot the right to hijack the word GAY from the english language anyway??

[HotDog]

far cue, you are so right. My favourite Hungarian restaurant, the "Gay Hussar" No.2 Greek St. Soho, was named many years before the homosexual community decided to adopt the title of "Gay". If I were the owner of this delightful restaurant, I would seek an injunction against the use of the latter, alternative meaning of gay. Just call them shirtlifters, why not?

[swashplate]

GAY Pilots?????????

I shoould hope they are all happy!!!!!

'shove it in our faces'...ooo errr missus!!!!!!! :) :) :)

[This message has been edited by swashplate (edited 16 March 2001).]

[Pink Pilot]

Its is because of the kind of bigoted racism shown by the previous postings that i am concerned, we are human beings with feelings, i didnt choose to be this way but i have to live with it.

I am also really dissapointed with PPRUNE, my posting on wannabees was blocked yet threads regarding women pilots is ok? I appreciate that you straight guys do not understand, but tolerence costs nothing.

WWW as the person who monitors the wannabees section, perhaps yopu should accept that approx 10% of the pilot force are women, also statistics say that approx 10% of the pilot force will be gay too!! therefore please do not treat us with such contempt again

[mallard]

Speaking as a hetero I have to express an opinion that gay folk are biologically useless.
But then so are Catholic priests and that includes the Pope.
Fact is we are a complicated bunch of animals probably still evolving (unless you are a fundamentalist) and we need to get on with one another.
There are "Outraged of Tunbridge Wells" in our business but the majority of of us accept the rich diversity of human character on this Earth.
The bottom line is to treat people like you want to be treated and we mostly do.

[noaltitude]

Just a small point that you guys may have missed. Someone on this thread( maybe a couple of people) said that being gay or straight had no impact on your flying and that was what was important !! ??
Well research has shown that gay men have a lower testosterone level on average than straight males and it has been shown that people with lower testosterone levels perform more poorly on spacial skills tests.
Therefor it could be argue that gay pilots on average would not perform as well as straight pilots ??

[Send Clowns]

Pink - for now the best thing I can say is from a fellow wannabe, best of luck with the exams. They are a bitch, but when you've got them and start flying again it's great.

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'Me here at last on the ground, you in mid air'

[MileHi]

Dipsh!t,

"You're very lucky in the airline world that if anyone does give you hassle for being gay, just let the cabin crew know and make sure you don't eat or drink anything destined for that person!!"

Exactly what are you trying to imply?
Lets reverse the rolls, maybe straight cabin crew should do something with your food because you're gay and flaunt it??

Same thing really......

I hope I never get to fly with you. I'd be too scared to undo the belts.....


Pinky,

Most guys/gals don't give a rat's arse about your sexual inclinations - just fly the plane!

[This message has been edited by MileHi (edited 19 March 2001).]

[far cue]

Christ Pinky,

You can't take a hint can you.

Most of us don't give a rat's ar$e whether you are a shirtlifter or not.

GO FIND A "GAY" SITE ON THE WEB AND DO YOUR BLEATING THERE!!!

If you insist on rubbing it in our faces, then be man?? enough to cop the responses, otherwise TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF PERMANENTLY.

Now do you get the message?

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Pink Pilot. Sorry that you are offended. I just didn't really see this thread as being very Wannabe related. Nothing sinister. I have a very good friend with whom I learnt to fly in the ATC who recently cam out of the closet much to my suprise. I still count him as a friend and find homophobia as absurd as any grown up should.

I am minded to keep any discussions about sexuality and sexual experience out of Wannabes. As well as being of little relevance to the forum one does have to consider that Wannabes is heavily populated by children and teens. The LAST thing we want is PPRuNe involved with Outraged Of Tumbridge Wells with the current hysteria about online paedophilic 'predators'...

I am not overly keen on the Female Pilots thread you mention on Wannabes. However it does serve the purpose of trying to indoctrinate lots of young male wannabe pilots - many of whom are naturally immature - that chauvinism has no place in aviation.

Any comments or feedback on editorial decisions - as always - is welcome.

Cheers,

WWW