Recently I was briefing a contractor (a senior manager in his large, publicly quoted organisation) for some proposed work on the airport.
I guess he was in his late 30s, and his entire career had been spent in civil engineering.
While we were talking a the crew of a LR45 called for start and the clearance, a female voice - the contractor went very quiet, and eventually he said "Was that the Stewardess?".
I explained that, not only was it a lady pilot, but it was an all female crew, and that this was quite common.
After seeing the aircraft take off, and much grinding of what, in theory, should be a very intelligent brain, he said, "OK, I see that to meet equality legislation a token woman is allowed on the flight deck, but they don't let women fly the big ones do they?".
At that moment, my relief colleague, who is also my watch manager, entered the tower to take over from me, how I wish I had a camera when I introduced her to him.
