Where are the female pilots ?
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 1
From: UK
A winchman once told me that all helicopter pilots were tarts.
A rumour also has it that UK Mil SAR has increased its female aircrew ratio by chemical/surgical methods!
I trained up some very determined and and skilful female SAR pilots in the early '90's. Most, I believe, have moved on from flying, with different priorities.
A rumour also has it that UK Mil SAR has increased its female aircrew ratio by chemical/surgical methods!
I trained up some very determined and and skilful female SAR pilots in the early '90's. Most, I believe, have moved on from flying, with different priorities.
Gentleman Aviator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,722
Likes: 91
From: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
The RAF have a couple of female SAR pilots
There's been quite a number on both SH and SAR - just off the top of my head I can think of at least 3 who have made it to sqn ldr rank too - and deservedly in each case...
And there aren't many male Chinook pilots who could get their frame refuelled in Albania with the wrong Credit Card .... by snogging the (Austrian IIRC) bowser driver ......
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 1
From: USA
pruners live large!
The sweeping generalizations about female pilots is awful. I have flown with dozens of US Army pilots, female pilots, who are first class aviators, motivated, hard working and good sticks.
The Chief Helo pilot for one US corporation is a female, and a crackerjack pilot.
If you sweep all women into one pile with generalizations about hard work, or tough conditions or the like, you are just plain wrong. I am sure there are mediocre female pilots out there but in my opinion, as pilots, women have to be somewhat better to be equal.
Maybe these thoughts will alienate some ppruners, but now when I go to the bar, my table mates will look better!
The sweeping generalizations about female pilots is awful. I have flown with dozens of US Army pilots, female pilots, who are first class aviators, motivated, hard working and good sticks.
The Chief Helo pilot for one US corporation is a female, and a crackerjack pilot.
If you sweep all women into one pile with generalizations about hard work, or tough conditions or the like, you are just plain wrong. I am sure there are mediocre female pilots out there but in my opinion, as pilots, women have to be somewhat better to be equal.
Maybe these thoughts will alienate some ppruners, but now when I go to the bar, my table mates will look better!
Last edited by NickLappos; 7th November 2004 at 16:31.
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
volrider,
We're used to it. Since when has life been fair?
Women have to do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. 
We're used to it. Since when has life been fair?
Women have to do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ursa Minor
Quite right Whirlybird - The small percentage of females who understand exactly what is expected of them know that they have to shine and outperform their male collegues in every respect - and they do! - This small percentage are an absolute joy to work with, they often race up the greasy pole with consumate ease..
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: wallop
Female Pilots
This thread is starnge!!!!
As a serving member of the AAC i know of numerous female pilots.
I am sure this is not the norm as I have seen many RAF SH female pilots over the years.....
as far a quality goes....the girls are easily if not better that some of the men.
Ralph
Although I do konw of one female SAR pilot who says that the trasition to the hover in a Mk3 is fantastic with love balls fitted!!!!!!
As a serving member of the AAC i know of numerous female pilots.
I am sure this is not the norm as I have seen many RAF SH female pilots over the years.....
as far a quality goes....the girls are easily if not better that some of the men.
Ralph
Although I do konw of one female SAR pilot who says that the trasition to the hover in a Mk3 is fantastic with love balls fitted!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: UK
Although I do konw of one female SAR pilot who says that the trasition to the hover in a Mk3 is fantastic with love balls fitted!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: The Middle bit
The typical female pilot tires quickly of the unsociable, long hours, she tires of the ongoing training requirements and quickly falls by the wayside - Any long and meaningful sortie debrief usually ends, literally, in tears - This leads normally to a protracted period of ill health (Stress, 'women’s problems', etc) which in itself leads to currency problems - From here it is a slippery slope, these individuals can easily absorb all of the time available to the unit trainers to the complete detriment of everyone else’s training. This saga normally ends with some sort of ground job or pregnancy.
Slartibardfast,
You obviously dont work in the Police as those sort of comments would have earned you the sack...and probably a court case as well-assuming you shouted them in public of course...
Sadly..you are probably 95% correct... I reserve the remaining 5% for those who do get stuck in, and dont look for an early settlement in the courts
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
The typical female pilot.....
Whilst I have no intention in arguing with you because you are so obviously correct in what you say, I was just curious to know how many female helicopter pilots you have in your acquaintance?
Cheers
Whirlygig
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 178
From: UK
I came across a book on doing postgraduate degrees the other day, which was called something like "A woman's guide to doing a Doctorate". My instinctive reaction was to think that there should be no difference at-all, and what sort of feminist pillock thinks there is.
But it interested me enough to pick up the book and read a couple of pages. The emphasis was interesting - it suggested that women routinely suffer from the misapprehension that ability alone is enough to succeed (in their Doctorate), and that much of the book was about explaining how and why it was important to fit in with the general ethos and modes of behaviour of their (academic) environment.
I'm not judging, but it was an interesting point - and written by a woman trying to give advice on how to succeed on (what she perceived as) a primarily male working environment.
G
But it interested me enough to pick up the book and read a couple of pages. The emphasis was interesting - it suggested that women routinely suffer from the misapprehension that ability alone is enough to succeed (in their Doctorate), and that much of the book was about explaining how and why it was important to fit in with the general ethos and modes of behaviour of their (academic) environment.
I'm not judging, but it was an interesting point - and written by a woman trying to give advice on how to succeed on (what she perceived as) a primarily male working environment.
G
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania, USA
Hi all,
I happened to come across a stunning blonde, tall, blue eyes, absolutly lovely, getting into a S76, here in Pennsylvania. I believe she works for a local company. I'm sure she wasn't just cleaning it...... I really impressed her as I crawled out of my aging, but very attractive Bell 47..... not.
Did I once see on the Discovery Channel a programme on a lady that flew one in England?????
I wish I could teach more women.... flying
Darren
I happened to come across a stunning blonde, tall, blue eyes, absolutly lovely, getting into a S76, here in Pennsylvania. I believe she works for a local company. I'm sure she wasn't just cleaning it...... I really impressed her as I crawled out of my aging, but very attractive Bell 47..... not.
Did I once see on the Discovery Channel a programme on a lady that flew one in England?????
I wish I could teach more women.... flying
Darren
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Canada
In 2004,
I would have never imagined that such sexist attitudes are still in existance.
Regardless of gender or race; it's the individual that matters.
There are good pilots and not so good pilots and bad pilots from all walks of life.
It is just wrong to prejudge someone's abilitites because of gender.
I would have never imagined that such sexist attitudes are still in existance.
Regardless of gender or race; it's the individual that matters.
There are good pilots and not so good pilots and bad pilots from all walks of life.
It is just wrong to prejudge someone's abilitites because of gender.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: East Yorkshire
A few weeks ago, there was a young Pilot who went solo on her 16th Birthday.
She started flying in an S300 C in January, and then went solo on her 16th Birthday, which was a great acheievement.
Hannah's anmbition is to fly the Apache.
Link to Yorkshire post article
Nigel
She started flying in an S300 C in January, and then went solo on her 16th Birthday, which was a great acheievement.
Hannah's anmbition is to fly the Apache.
Link to Yorkshire post article
Nigel
volrider: Women Rotorheads
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Nigelf,
If that's a picture of her RHS......she's got the ideal looks for a helicopter pilot - she's ugly and got a bald head.
If that's a picture of her RHS......she's got the ideal looks for a helicopter pilot - she's ugly and got a bald head.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Sgt. Peppah,
I can give as good as I get so you can make whatever jibes you wish but you could, at least, make them either
A) Original; and/or
B) Funny.
Cheers
Whirlygig
I can give as good as I get so you can make whatever jibes you wish but you could, at least, make them either
A) Original; and/or
B) Funny.
Cheers
Whirlygig
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Aberdeen.
Well it didn't take long but this thread has got very similar to one a couple of months ago called sexual harrassment.
The fact is there are quite a lot of female commercial pilots out there, in a variety of flying roles. Some, I am sure are good, some not so good, we are only human after all.
The one thing, I think, that we all have in common is that we get bored of the mascara/parking/tea-making jokes, so if you're gonna try to be funny or insulting thenm do it properly.
P.S. Sometimes the sky IS pink.
Blind.
Actually I can't parallel park, that's why I fly helicopters, they can go sideways.
The fact is there are quite a lot of female commercial pilots out there, in a variety of flying roles. Some, I am sure are good, some not so good, we are only human after all.
The one thing, I think, that we all have in common is that we get bored of the mascara/parking/tea-making jokes, so if you're gonna try to be funny or insulting thenm do it properly.
P.S. Sometimes the sky IS pink.
Blind.
Actually I can't parallel park, that's why I fly helicopters, they can go sideways.