Easyjet Scholarship for Women...
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Easyjet Scholarship for Women...
easyJet launches initiative worth £600K a year to help boost female pilot recruits - Pilot Career News
What are people's thoughts on this? I don't doubt that Easyjet have launched it with the best of intentions but it just feels wrong to me.
The lack of women in the cockpit is of course a big issue and one that airlines should be looking to change. However, the obstacles to women participation are no more financial than they are for men. As a potential cadet without access to 85k in funding I am also a hugely under-represented group in aviation these days but I don't see Easyjet offering to guarantee my loan. What about ethnic minorities, I don't see a scholarship for them? Piloting is one of if not the worst industry for social mobility. For a company earning 686m last year could they not have given the same opportunity to everyone like BA/Aer Lingus?
On the other hand, for women it is a fantastic opportunity...
What are people's thoughts on this? I don't doubt that Easyjet have launched it with the best of intentions but it just feels wrong to me.
The lack of women in the cockpit is of course a big issue and one that airlines should be looking to change. However, the obstacles to women participation are no more financial than they are for men. As a potential cadet without access to 85k in funding I am also a hugely under-represented group in aviation these days but I don't see Easyjet offering to guarantee my loan. What about ethnic minorities, I don't see a scholarship for them? Piloting is one of if not the worst industry for social mobility. For a company earning 686m last year could they not have given the same opportunity to everyone like BA/Aer Lingus?
On the other hand, for women it is a fantastic opportunity...
Last edited by ManUtd1999; 31st Jan 2016 at 19:43.
de minimus non curat lex
Great opportunity for those women who want to fly.
Golfers & horse riders will do especially well.
Tennis , volleyball or other ball sport participants likely to succeed
Golfers & horse riders will do especially well.
Tennis , volleyball or other ball sport participants likely to succeed
I am all for increasing the number of females on this side of the flight deck door, and making it a career that women actually consider is important.
Getting that message to them while they're young and keen and letting them know it's a career that is achievable and not "a mans job" is key to that.
Both EZY and BA have been publicising female pilots recently, and that's great, young girls can see the posters and hopefully it will inspire more of them.
Not sure I like the idea of positive discrimination in order to achieve higher numbers though.
I have heard of some instances of female trainees and applicants getting picked over better male applicants, for some kind of apparent publicity or quota reason.
Was told of one female BA FPP trainee who wasn't chopped during training despite numerous failed CPL and IR LSTs, (finally passed them at third series first attempt and second series second attempt respectively), when at least two male FPP trainees were given the chop as soon as they failed their second CPL attempt, (so half the number of failed LSTs as the girl). She's now on the 320 with BA, the two guys I imagine are somewhere like RYR trying to pay their money back to the bank or parents.
Getting that message to them while they're young and keen and letting them know it's a career that is achievable and not "a mans job" is key to that.
Both EZY and BA have been publicising female pilots recently, and that's great, young girls can see the posters and hopefully it will inspire more of them.
Not sure I like the idea of positive discrimination in order to achieve higher numbers though.
I have heard of some instances of female trainees and applicants getting picked over better male applicants, for some kind of apparent publicity or quota reason.
Was told of one female BA FPP trainee who wasn't chopped during training despite numerous failed CPL and IR LSTs, (finally passed them at third series first attempt and second series second attempt respectively), when at least two male FPP trainees were given the chop as soon as they failed their second CPL attempt, (so half the number of failed LSTs as the girl). She's now on the 320 with BA, the two guys I imagine are somewhere like RYR trying to pay their money back to the bank or parents.
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I'd support some form of positive discrimination, maybe a guaranteed number of interviews for women? Its the financial aspect I am against. The idea that you could get a loan if you're female but a man would have to have assets/rich parents is wrong.
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I've heard about this for a while and I think it's bang out of order. As the OP says, any airline which is making those sorts of profits (no doubt with a massive cash pile too) should be at least providing guarantees to the everyone, ideally emulating Aer Lingus and coughing up for the entire thing.
As for the number of women pilots, I think there simply needs to be a measure of the percentage of applicants against the percentage of female applicants. Same for all backgrounds, I believe it's called equal opportunities monitoring.
Some jobs appeal more to certain genders, there are very few male primary school teachers or male midwives (yes they do exist). I don't believe there should be any "positive" discrimination based on gender at all.
No blokes I've come across think this Easyjet offering is actually fair. I'm amazed that any man would actually come out on record and support it.
As for the number of women pilots, I think there simply needs to be a measure of the percentage of applicants against the percentage of female applicants. Same for all backgrounds, I believe it's called equal opportunities monitoring.
Some jobs appeal more to certain genders, there are very few male primary school teachers or male midwives (yes they do exist). I don't believe there should be any "positive" discrimination based on gender at all.
No blokes I've come across think this Easyjet offering is actually fair. I'm amazed that any man would actually come out on record and support it.
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I am against "positive" discrimination in any form. EJ are seriously limiting their talent pool to choose from, not because women make worse pilots but simply because far less ladies are interested in the role than men when this is finally realised hopefully all this nonsense will stop.
If they do decide to continue to do this I hope a similar scheme is introduced to aid more males in becoming cabin crew as that is certainly a female dominated role at the airline.
If they do decide to continue to do this I hope a similar scheme is introduced to aid more males in becoming cabin crew as that is certainly a female dominated role at the airline.
Hmmmm
Not often I react to this kind of news but most of my gripes have been covered by others so will just add -
I've been taught by, flown with and know lots of female pilots. Not one of them anything less than excellent.
I think it's patronising to the women actually and they could be tainted somehow - everyone else has done it the hard way so they should too.
The £600k could have been used in a recruitment / selection type thing under EZ's banner to generate interest but then it's up to them (the candidates) to continue under their own initiative.
I've been taught by, flown with and know lots of female pilots. Not one of them anything less than excellent.
I think it's patronising to the women actually and they could be tainted somehow - everyone else has done it the hard way so they should too.
The £600k could have been used in a recruitment / selection type thing under EZ's banner to generate interest but then it's up to them (the candidates) to continue under their own initiative.
There is no £600K. Read the article. It is all spin.
All Easy are doing is offering to underwrite the loan if the applicant does not have the security. Exactly the same as the BA FPP - except restricted to females. It will cost Easy nothing - but generate good PR.
All Easy are doing is offering to underwrite the loan if the applicant does not have the security. Exactly the same as the BA FPP - except restricted to females. It will cost Easy nothing - but generate good PR.
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Not sure if any of the opinions so far have been from women, but I'll throw my female view into the ring...
I wholeheartedly agree with pretty much everyone who has posted so far - throwing money (or in this case, underwriting loans) at women probably isn't going to encourage more to take up pilot studies. They should be using the money to invest in educating kids (both girls and boys) that careers in aviation are not just for men.
IMO, the bigger barrier is the amount of time needed away from home during studies and then when trying to establish a career, which is very off-putting for (most) women who have aspirations of a family life at some point.
L.H. (speaking as an engineering graduate and PPL student - I love stereotypes!)
I wholeheartedly agree with pretty much everyone who has posted so far - throwing money (or in this case, underwriting loans) at women probably isn't going to encourage more to take up pilot studies. They should be using the money to invest in educating kids (both girls and boys) that careers in aviation are not just for men.
IMO, the bigger barrier is the amount of time needed away from home during studies and then when trying to establish a career, which is very off-putting for (most) women who have aspirations of a family life at some point.
L.H. (speaking as an engineering graduate and PPL student - I love stereotypes!)
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IMO, the bigger barrier is the amount of time needed away from home during studies and then when trying to establish a career, which is very off-putting for (most) women who have aspirations of a family life at some point.
To give my 2p on the issue; I can understand why EZY are doing this but IMO its the wrong way to go about it.
BA had a similar press stunt thing before last year's FPP in which they wheeled out Carol Vordamnmnmnmnmnmnmn to gee up some interest from women.
The people going through the CTC/FTE/Oxford type schools are predominantly young males from white, middle class families. Maybe a more sensible idea would be to offer funding support to successful candidates so the scheme was accessible to a wider demographic.
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Girl here- and I think the number in my (very imaginative) username hints my age. . . so just the sort of person EZY are looking to attract- right?
I bumped into a CTC cadet who was on the easyJet MPL scheme a couple months ago and he told me about this- I think it's an absolute disgrace. I've always had suspicions that there might be some discrimination and I'm now actively avoiding this scheme.
Yep, encourage more females. . . well done easyJet.
I bumped into a CTC cadet who was on the easyJet MPL scheme a couple months ago and he told me about this- I think it's an absolute disgrace. I've always had suspicions that there might be some discrimination and I'm now actively avoiding this scheme.
Yep, encourage more females. . . well done easyJet.
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Isn't this just pure discrimination? Male or female, what is the difference? We all sing from the same hymn sheet. I'd rather this was pushed out for all cadets on tagged schemes.
C.A
C.A
Isn't this just pure discrimination?
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I completely agree with the increase in targeted publicity, so more women are aware that a flying career is an option for them, should they want it.
The flight deck needs diversity, and that should filter through the airline. You learn so much from people and the greater variety in the FD, the better for everyone. This therefore should include all people from every background e.g. Gender, race, social background.
However, if after all The PR, women are still not applying in large numbers, could it possibly be that they are not attracted to the job? It's a curious profession and certainly does not appeal to many people, when they know the realities of the profession.
I'm not sure how many women discount a career in the FD, because they can't pay the training fees... I imagine it's the same number as the rest of the groups so not sure that this initiative is necessarily best placed to 'attract' women to aviation. As an aside, more financial help should be given to everyone on a 'tagged scheme'.
Maybe more flexible rosters, more support/clarity for people should they wish to start a family, highlighting it's not a 'male job', highlighting more women pilots in senior flight operations roles might be better initiatives?
The flight deck needs diversity, and that should filter through the airline. You learn so much from people and the greater variety in the FD, the better for everyone. This therefore should include all people from every background e.g. Gender, race, social background.
However, if after all The PR, women are still not applying in large numbers, could it possibly be that they are not attracted to the job? It's a curious profession and certainly does not appeal to many people, when they know the realities of the profession.
I'm not sure how many women discount a career in the FD, because they can't pay the training fees... I imagine it's the same number as the rest of the groups so not sure that this initiative is necessarily best placed to 'attract' women to aviation. As an aside, more financial help should be given to everyone on a 'tagged scheme'.
Maybe more flexible rosters, more support/clarity for people should they wish to start a family, highlighting it's not a 'male job', highlighting more women pilots in senior flight operations roles might be better initiatives?