women pilots in africa

[dianed]

Is there any woman pilots who have flown in africa or thinking about going?

[IXUXU]

Yep, there are women working there.

[cavortingcheetah]

One wonders how much latitude the moderators might be prepared to allow in a discussion about women trying to fly, either north of the southern line of the Sahara, where slave markets are common, or south of that line where polygamy is still quite usual; where women fetch and carry while the men generally have quite a good time of it, smoking funny stuff and discussing the relative uses of any new female in the settlement.

[steelbranch]

CC, I presume you're taking the pi$$.

Diane - There are a number of female pilots in Kenya and their standing is equal among their male colleagues. I can try to put you in touch if you want. I am not sure about the presence of expat female pilots, but if you had a starting point you could find out more.

[IXUXU]

I do know, at least, one expat female pilot in TZ.

[Vc10Tail]

GA flying in Africa

By Africa do you mean south or North of the Sahara?

If inexperienced then try Maun in Botswana..there is a long thread about it. East Africa. You will find employment is pretty restrictive due to competition with locals in the job market.Too many pilot wannabes these days.Tz and Uganda you wil suffer a similar set back unless rated and experienced on types like C208 which could give you a chance if no local is vying for the same job.It used to be easier in the past.Now every country is minding its job market for its local unemployed youth.Where are you from lady?

[Arik]

There are many lady pilots, expats in Namibia, Congo, TNZ to name a few and Africans are numerous and growing in number; it might be worth looking up the organisation Pan African Women in Aviation.

[cavortingcheetah]

If one wishes to keep the perspective in the correct balance demanded by those of political correctness who plod through the Gobi in galoshes then one must not refer to females as lady pilots without describing male pilots as gentlemen pilots. As there are really no gentlemen pilots to speak of, and certainly fewer than when I was last flying in Africa, then there are in truth no lady pilots but only women who fly, who may be called pilots, but only in order to distinguish them from ladies, who cannot fly anyway because ladies don't wear trousers.

[TownshipDog]

There are many, some make it and some don't. There is the legendary Heather from Trackmark / Loki fame who, if memory serves, National Geographic made a documentary about her life and flying career.

I had the privilege of flying for her out of Loki in 2005/6, a true lady and exceptional aviator.

[Soap Box Cowboy]

I flew with several of them in Tanzania

[perceval]

There has been . is and will be . I've had female colleagues , students and/or friends (yet pilots) from Tanzania , Kenya , Algeria , Egypt , Congo , South Africa , Madagascar and Ethiopia at least . To that you can add a number or migratory (permanent or temporary ) girls from the UK , USA , Spain , France , Switzerland ( Hi Liz !) ... that I encountered flying around the continent . The only place where I never heard a feminine voice ( Besides an Egypt air 320 F/O once ...) on the airwaves was in Lybia , although I did hear someone mentioning that there might have been one or two at some point (??) . If you're thinking of emigrating to look for work , you'll be facing the usual hurdles ( finding work , taming a chief pilot/HR RP , Getting licences and other permits ...etc...) like everyone else . Sometimes being a woman will make it more difficult but sometimes it might help ... who knows how it works ? Good luck in any case and have fun !

[Exascot]

I had one try to kill me in Botswana.

[cavortingcheetah]

There seem to be none flying for Mission Aviation Fellowship but then with Deuteronomy 22:5 hanging around one's neck the bracingly spiritual side of things should not be neglected.

[Renaissance]

The chief pilot for MAF Kenya is a lady. And she does wear trousers

[Foxcotte]

Dress code

With some first hand knowledge I can confirm that most lady pilots I have met wear trousers.... Spreading ones legs around a control column, leaping up and down from ladders, climbing on wings to refuel and general operations around Islamic areas are best done in demure trousers. Skirts just dont work. Any more than kilts for men!

And there are short ladies, tall ones, fat and slim, old and young, good pilots and ne'er do wells. Black, white and every colour in between. In short just like the men. There are those who fly as amateurs, commercial professionals, those who take it up until they get pregnant, those who never get pregnant, those who fill a Quota and those who are pretty damn good.

Big problems for ladies who take up flying are local culture which doesn't see them as in command... I've seen officials walk right past a female four bar to talk to the perceived male captain. They are sometimes seen as easy prey, soft touches for being cheated, fleeced. Hygiene facilities across the region don't cater for the fairer sex, and privacy is at a premium when nature calls and there isn't a bush in sight. Companies often have the opinion females aren't worth investing in because "they don't have It", or they will get broody as soon as they get useful.

I've seen women take up flying as a passion, a career, a way to impress the men or a scheming way to fleece a lover. And as a great thing to do.

So who's asking and what was the question again??

[choobee]

Why not?

What difference does it make... male or female!
They both do the same job, and do it as good or as bad, all depending on the individual.
I know some women who have been flying in Africa for years. And some are doing incredible jobs, than even some man would not do. In condition so harsh that are not for faint heart.
Just check out those 2 in that article a few years back... I had met them out there, and as of today, they might have left that country but are still in Africa and doing what they love to do.
Refugees and Legionnaires | Flying Magazine
So enjoy the reading and learn from it.

[perceval]

And that about sums it up ! Nice post 'foxcotte' . Hope all is well ...
Moving on ...

[Raffles S.A.]

There was a very capable lady pilot at Air Gabon, thereafter Gabon Airlines, on the 767. I'm not sure where she is now since both airlines folded. A good friend of mine but we lost contact.

[Sam Rutherford]

Why do you ask?

[Exascot]

I read an article in a SA aviation magazine a few months ago about a lady pilot who crash landed in Rhodesia (?) around the 1920s. And, she was a 'lady'. Wife of some diplomat I think. Unfortunately the magazine is in the house in Bots so I can't give any more details. All I remember was that she had to walk out of the bush but once they had found her they kept dropping cigarettes and champagne to sustain her on her route march

I can't find it on the internet. Anyone any the wiser?