female pilots should not be allowed in the cockpit
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female pilots should not be allowed in the cockpit
The title seems contraversial but I wanted to get more opinions on female pilots.
the other day I turned up for flight school theory training, out of the blue I asked my instructor why there were not many female pilots out there?
I had previously spent the day at Melbourne international airport and for the whole day heard one female pilot from around 100 arrivals and departures.
any how the instructors words were that females should not be allowed anywhere near the cockpit, I was taken back by this but did not argue with the guy.
in my opinion I would have said that it really doesnt matter what sex flies the plane, but what is the general feeling in the industry?
I know its an odd topic but I just want some more understanding on the mater.
the other day I turned up for flight school theory training, out of the blue I asked my instructor why there were not many female pilots out there?
I had previously spent the day at Melbourne international airport and for the whole day heard one female pilot from around 100 arrivals and departures.
any how the instructors words were that females should not be allowed anywhere near the cockpit, I was taken back by this but did not argue with the guy.
in my opinion I would have said that it really doesnt matter what sex flies the plane, but what is the general feeling in the industry?
I know its an odd topic but I just want some more understanding on the mater.
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The low number of female pilots is indeed somewhat puzzling. Airlines over here hire them for quite a while now and it is absolutely normal to have them doing that job. However of all applicants for cadet training with the airlines there are only around 5% female ones. Even if the airlines try to give them a slight advantage they do not get more than around 5 to 6% female applicants of all applicants that do pass the entry tests. The pass rate during flight training is then the same as for the male ones.
Funny enough with a very similar if not even more thorough entry test system there are around 50% of female ATCO applicants, both applying and passing the test.
Or simply said, most women are way too clever to even try the airline way, they rather take the better paid, stay at home job of an ATCO instead and fly in their spare time. Doesn't say much about us males on the other hand, we are apparently just waiting to get blinded by that stupid dream about flying the big jets.
Funny enough with a very similar if not even more thorough entry test system there are around 50% of female ATCO applicants, both applying and passing the test.
Or simply said, most women are way too clever to even try the airline way, they rather take the better paid, stay at home job of an ATCO instead and fly in their spare time. Doesn't say much about us males on the other hand, we are apparently just waiting to get blinded by that stupid dream about flying the big jets.
Females have a natural advantage in ATC in they can multitask well hence the high number.
As for flying I think the whole BS GA scene in Australia makes it hard to for girls to break into flying. Once in the bigger operators its obviously a little fairer however being a girl and getting the experience to apply for a airline is a tough road to hoe as GA is a very blokey industry.
As for flying I think the whole BS GA scene in Australia makes it hard to for girls to break into flying. Once in the bigger operators its obviously a little fairer however being a girl and getting the experience to apply for a airline is a tough road to hoe as GA is a very blokey industry.
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More than likely the lack of Female pilots and/or applicants is the fact that they are not totally obsessed with engines, lights and things that make noise. This means that they actually look at what the job can offer, the majority then decide to go to Uni, get a degree and actually pursue a career where you are valued and earn the same money. That is unless they decide to be stay at home Mums (most vital job in society).
As an aside, some of the best Captains I ever had the pleasure of flying with were/are female Captains. I truely hope that if the above scenario is true that dic*heads like your instructor are few and far between. No room for that kind of attitude anymore.
As an aside, some of the best Captains I ever had the pleasure of flying with were/are female Captains. I truely hope that if the above scenario is true that dic*heads like your instructor are few and far between. No room for that kind of attitude anymore.
As for flying I think the whole BS GA scene in Australia makes it hard to for girls to break into flying.
I could easily say I know less unemployed female pilots vs. male pilots, but of course the above would also apply.
Doesn't Wrightsair have a decent female contingent, not to mention a female CP?
Maybe said CP who stalks this forum can add her input as to the comment made by the instructor and how she feels GA is towards women?
As plenty of people have said, flying doesn't seem to appeal as much to women as men. How many of you guys go out and ride horses for recreation? But for the few that are as aviation mad as us blokes, the ones I have met have been as dedicated, professional and committed to flying as men are, and in some cases more so.
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I often think it is a bad idea to have a mixed sex cockpit on a long haul flight as there is a danger of sexual actions being carried out and the plane could stall whilst in auto pilot!
this may seem silly to some, but human beings can become very open minded when stuck in a cockpit for 8 hours with an attractive male/female next to them.
I say its a matter of time before an accident could occur due to this.
this may seem silly to some, but human beings can become very open minded when stuck in a cockpit for 8 hours with an attractive male/female next to them.
I say its a matter of time before an accident could occur due to this.
^^^^^
This is the kind of thinking that leads to the wearing of burqas.
I suspect that Learjet-45 has just reached puberty and has self control problems
This is the kind of thinking that leads to the wearing of burqas.
I suspect that Learjet-45 has just reached puberty and has self control problems
Perhaps the girls look at the expense involved in getting licensed vs the likely hood of actually getting a decent job at the end of it all, and decide it's not worth it.
For the same expense and effort of getting to the stage where an airline will even look at you, a university degree can be had. Pick the right subject (mining for example) and you can walk into a secure, well paid job and have your career take off.
The years of low pay and poor conditions in GA aren't for everyone.
For the same expense and effort of getting to the stage where an airline will even look at you, a university degree can be had. Pick the right subject (mining for example) and you can walk into a secure, well paid job and have your career take off.
The years of low pay and poor conditions in GA aren't for everyone.
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I'd definitely say it's because women are far more rational than men when it comes to making important decisions about careers, money, effort expended for reward etc.
That's why the smart women all have degrees and are accountants etc.
Men generally tend to "follow the dream" and settle in to doing something they really enjoy for their careers. Nothing wrong with either course so long as you're happy and die that way.
That's why the smart women all have degrees and are accountants etc.
Men generally tend to "follow the dream" and settle in to doing something they really enjoy for their careers. Nothing wrong with either course so long as you're happy and die that way.
All the ladies I have flown with have been very good and very knowledgable bar one.
I can't say that about all the blokes I have flown with!
The one thing they all had in common was they loved to trash talk the company. If an aircraft broke (as they do) they blamed dodgy maintenance etc (lack of mechanical understanding!) it got tiring listening to hours of he said she said.
If a CB popped, they kept resetting it. In fact I recall one flying along with her finger on the CB and when questioned about it replied so that her HSI would continue to operate else the CB would pop
(multi crew too!)
Any way if those girls took the same mechanical interest and had the same understanding as the fellas, the would have been the complete package.
I can't say I have ever been attracted to one however just because they are female. When they are on their game and flying in arduous conditions they are just as capable as any other Pilot (in some cases more) and mostly a pleasure to work with. I can't say that about all the fellas!
I can't say that about all the blokes I have flown with!
The one thing they all had in common was they loved to trash talk the company. If an aircraft broke (as they do) they blamed dodgy maintenance etc (lack of mechanical understanding!) it got tiring listening to hours of he said she said.
If a CB popped, they kept resetting it. In fact I recall one flying along with her finger on the CB and when questioned about it replied so that her HSI would continue to operate else the CB would pop
(multi crew too!)Any way if those girls took the same mechanical interest and had the same understanding as the fellas, the would have been the complete package.
I can't say I have ever been attracted to one however just because they are female. When they are on their game and flying in arduous conditions they are just as capable as any other Pilot (in some cases more) and mostly a pleasure to work with. I can't say that about all the fellas!
I often think it is a bad idea to have a mixed sex cockpit on a long haul flight as there is a danger of sexual actions being carried out and the plane could stall whilst in auto pilot!
this may seem silly to some, but human beings can become very open minded when stuck in a cockpit for 8 hours with an attractive male/female next to them.
I say its a matter of time before an accident could occur due to this.
this may seem silly to some, but human beings can become very open minded when stuck in a cockpit for 8 hours with an attractive male/female next to them.
I say its a matter of time before an accident could occur due to this.
I have had the pleasure of working with and even being instructed by female pilots. They are in no way any worse than their male colleagues. I've seen some bad eggs, but then I think I've probably also seen more male bad eggs. Again, the % would be about the same.
There IS a place for female pilots in our industry and I've always thought that there should be more than there is.
Would you tell people like Nancy Bird Walton and Amelia Earhart that they shouldn't have gone anywhere near a cockpit?
morno
P.S. I think your instructor need's a reality check and to grow up himself.
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female pilots should not be allowed in the cockpit
As for the actual question, I think Neville and Metro man have a point (though it hasn't stopped plenty of women succeeding in GA) but most women don't want to work somewhere like Tenant Creek for three to five years. If you look at any Australian Public Service department with remote stations and voluntary transfer policies you'll see a far higher percentage of male staff in the boonies, even though the bonuses are good. Women tend to like big cities (insert shopping joke of choice, but IME it's true).
Also, shift work and nights away from home do not suit many women with families. Most (not all) women see themselves having children at some stage and tend to look for jobs that will fit around that.
At the end of the day it's a blokey sort of job and I don't think the average woman is all that interested, any more than the average guy is interested in being a nurse, for example. Of course there are exceptions to general rules and I certainly don't see any barrier to either gender in either profession, which is as it should be. I don't see either approaching gender equity in the near future though, if ever, and who cares?
I learned to fly for a while (didn't continue) and my female friends were interested, but not one asked about how or where to do it.
Funny enough with a very similar if not even more thorough entry test system there are around 50% of female ATCO applicants, both applying and passing the test.
I thought it was a lot lower than that. Learn something every day!
The one thing they all had in common was they loved to trash talk the company. If an aircraft broke (as they do) they blamed dodgy maintenance etc (lack of mechanical understanding!) it got tiring listening to hours of he said she said.
).
I often think it is a bad idea to have a mixed sex cockpit on a long haul flight as there is a danger of sexual actions being carried out and the plane could stall whilst in auto pilot!
Unclothed ones on the internet don't count. 
Just sayin'