women pilot
 

Do you think women in aviation have the same chances to get a job?
Thank you!

I think, Caj88, you do prune big favour and delete your post and this thread.

Too silly for words matey.

Oh boo hoo, I didnt get the job. Must be because I am a woman and employers are discriminating against me. Couldnt possibly be because I am not as good as the person who got the job.:yuk::*:mad:

Give me a break, what a stupid question.

I know a few blokes like that.

Lots of women (not all) are perfectly capable of taking control of situations. Some guys (not all) are hopeless at it.

Comes down to selecting the right person for the right job regardless of gender.

I think you're a bit harsh on a legitimate question, fellows.
Women pilots do indeed have exactly the same rights as their male colleagues. Worldwide, the ratio of female professional pilots is about 6 to 8%.
So hardly something to feel threatened about.

Unfortunately, due to misguided attempts at social engineering by governments setting targets to increase the number of women in management roles in companies, HR departments, faced with 2 equally competant candidates, will opt for the female. As a result their is a widely held perception among male pilots that their female colleagues have " have had it easy".

Are they right to think that? Yes and No...

Interesting Topic,:ugh::ugh:

I have worked alongside plenty of female pilots in my time, haven’t had any real problems as such. But I must say it depends on the person, some have played on being a women and palmed off particular jobs to the male line pilots. But with most operators these days they will give you a go regardless of gender if you meet there minima's.:ok::ok:

Caj88, is this a generic question or has someone or an operator turned you down????

Good luck with it!!!!:ok:

reminds me of my days in the Aust army reserve (officer trg) - on training ex's, we had sections including females of all ages. Some of them were more gung ho than the guys (I would have followed THEM into battle) but there were always one or two who couldn't hack it (they asked for 'girl time') which also pissed off the other girls as well as the 'old salts'.

long story short...this is a male-dominated society and women are just as (if not more) capable than men however they unfortunately have to prove themselves a lot more than sometimes guys do. :bored:

dlesmond - sexist! sexist! sexist! Just wanted to be the first ;)

There's always going to be guys holding out-moded notions about women in aviation (interestingly, I've found it's seldom the old blokes, who always seem to take a "onya, Sheila" approach).

I once had a middle-aged LAME say,
"teaching you about engines is like you trying to teach me about fashion"
Poor bloke....at least I have a chance of passing CPL Gen!

On the whole though, I've had nothing but support. I don't feel that I have to prove myself, and I certainly don't feel as though I have to hide my femininity - it's possible to be both competent and glamourous - look at Nancy Bird, or Shelley Ross (ex-editor of Flying mag). If a male pilot wants to refuel my plane, great - not because I'm afraid of damaging my nails, but because there's nothing wrong with gallantry. I don't see why equality should mean homogeneity.

Sounds like you've had a rough time of it, caj88. Has some-one implied that you're not worthy of a role due to your gender?

Hmmm...Interesting question. I agree with what most others have said...you shouldn't really see yourself as being any different. I think it depends on the operator (particularly in smaller companies) and what their previous experiences with women pilots are. Unfortunately there may have been a previous woman in the job that played the 'precious card' to get out of the 'blokey' jobs and this gives the rest of us a bad name and makes the operator more wary when employing females. I think women need to realise that this is still a very male dominated industry and we just need to show that we can hack it and do whatever the guys can do...sometimes this might mean doing MORE until we have proven ourselves (but don't do TOO much as the guys might not like being shown up either ;)). Basically you just need to try fit in and not make it such a big deal...after all we all get trained the same way. Other than that there may be other certain pros (some of us are lighter and may be able to carry more fuel/freight/pax) and cons (may not be the strongest so may take longer or need help to load baggage/freight etc) but they should just even out.
I've only just recently started flying commercially though so there may be others with a better perception than me!!
Good luck :ok:
P.S. Have a few beers with the guys at the pub after work and you'll be right!

Im my experience i have seen a few females with little or no experience gain employment or keep there job over a male with more experience..Thats life!! Plenty of great females to have a beer with though so i aint complaining...

Rose McCrae
 

Caj88
Have a read of Rosemary McCrae's story Whirley Girl 530.
It will give you some insight into a female pilot's life in a male dominated industry.
She is a bit of a legend amongst helicopter operations in Australia.
I was particularly impressed with the fact that she can stand a 200litre drum of oil by herself. I can only just do it on a good day.

Blackhand

Hmmmm . . ... just try that line on Captain Gina Gillette. (Edit: because a post by longrass about boobs has just gone west.)

If a young woman makes it to final interview and some hardened old captain on the panel winds up by saying to her, we'll let you know, and incidentally, what would you do in the case of sexual harassment occurring when you're on duty, what could she say to enhance her job prospects?

I'd ask him not to say a word.

Longrass, out of genuine female curiosity, does that ever actually work? :}

On a related (I think) topic, do other Ppruners notice a lot of nepotism in aviation among smaller operators? I came from government (where all :mad:wits are created equal as far as their family goes) to aviation and was amazed at the amount of jobs for the rellies that goes on. Some of them are competent, but others should only be used as landfill...and they'd probably stuff that up.

Does this happen across the country, or is it specific to this location?

(Sorry if that's too much driftage)

Q. Why do women make up only 6-8% of the pilot numbers?
A. 'Cause 92-94% have got more brains than their male counterparts.

To those (males) who gave idiot/arrogant replies I would ask:
afraid to compare with girls? :E

To those who suggested to delate my question I say: sorry, no way.
I've no license yet, I'm planning my training and I want to know what I'll have to deal with: job opportunities (as I've already asked) as well as job conditions.
Also, I think there's a 6-8% of pilots and many other peolpe who can be intereasted in the topic..

What about me I would have the same rights and chances as everyone else, no more no less.
I'm asking you (as far as you know and experienced) how employers usually behave and I thank those who've already replied.

I'm glad for the industry my 15 year old daughter has not the slightest bit of interest in it.
She is a bloody tyrant :ooh:

Come behind the bike shed and say that.

tin if you search for that John Cleese Jimmy Kimmel interview there's a prize bit about the leopard/tyrant daughter.

I think go for it, however my wife says "if you wish to make a stand for feminism at the same time, you should learn how to spell first." :ok:

Caj88,

Curious as to why if you are in Italy, you are posting this in an Australian Forum?

FFG02

Interestingly, not so long ago, I saw a job advertised which stated it required the services of a 'small framed female pilot' for the right hand seat in a Lear or Citation...forget which company.

Was trying to work out the difference between a qualified pilot weighting 55 kilo's who happens to be a female and a 55 kilo male with the same experience/quals, other than the obvious!?

Thought about applying just to see what would happen, with my best falsetto voice and turn up to the interview in drag, but losing 35 kilos in three weeks did look likely, despite what Jenny Craig recons! :E