Flying Ladies
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Flying Ladies
As female pilots have to contend with a 28 day changing cycle in there physical and mental make up, does this change their sense of reasoning whilst they are flying during such periods. (no pun intended) The question is based on studying the reactions of lady car drivers during such periods, when I have witnessed the normally demure layed back type turn into a snarling cat, combined with a hint of sheer bloody stupidity.
Hovering AND talking
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OK, I'll be the first brave enough to have a go at answering this:-
YES and NO.
I did my PPL full-time. At four days, I was under a very high workload; everything was new, I had a lot to learn, it was going badly, I couldn't hover the bloody thing to save my life. It was that time. I decided I needed clear my head so I went out on my motorbike for a ride. I dropped it. In 20 years of riding a motorbike, I had never dropped it. Until then. I went back to my aircraft, even more stressed as I had the ignominy of having some bloke pick up said bike for me and I was on the verge of tears.
I didn't let my instructor see me in that state so I left. However, he probably knows about it now!!
BUT
Now, it's not a problem. I think it only matters when other stress levels are high. I do know of a woman airline pilot who manages to gets rostered in a particular pattern to avoid this.
It's different for all women and it is this that men must realize and it can be different for the same woman at different times. But it always a consideration when I go flying as sometimes the feeling of having your innards ripped away can be a bit much! And the backache. And the headache. And the increased body temperture. And the overflowing oestrogen. And the....er... bladder issues. But, other than that, hey, it's a breeze
Cheers
Whirlygig
YES and NO.
I did my PPL full-time. At four days, I was under a very high workload; everything was new, I had a lot to learn, it was going badly, I couldn't hover the bloody thing to save my life. It was that time. I decided I needed clear my head so I went out on my motorbike for a ride. I dropped it. In 20 years of riding a motorbike, I had never dropped it. Until then. I went back to my aircraft, even more stressed as I had the ignominy of having some bloke pick up said bike for me and I was on the verge of tears.
I didn't let my instructor see me in that state so I left. However, he probably knows about it now!!
BUT
Now, it's not a problem. I think it only matters when other stress levels are high. I do know of a woman airline pilot who manages to gets rostered in a particular pattern to avoid this.
It's different for all women and it is this that men must realize and it can be different for the same woman at different times. But it always a consideration when I go flying as sometimes the feeling of having your innards ripped away can be a bit much! And the backache. And the headache. And the increased body temperture. And the overflowing oestrogen. And the....er... bladder issues. But, other than that, hey, it's a breeze
Cheers
Whirlygig
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It’s really comes down to good CRM. As a considerate crewmember (with a basic sense of self-preservation) working alongside members of the fairer sex, you’ll soon come to know when’s a good time to hold off on the banter…
I/C
I/C
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It's different for all women and it is this that men must realize and it can be different for the same woman at different times.
I have honestly never had a problem with it. Or, at any rate, less of a problem than with the normal ups and downs of life that can make you feel better some days than others, and can easily be ignored. I know I'm fairly lucky in this respect, but I also know I'm very, very far from unique.
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I know Whirlybird - you didn't seriously expect anything else from these guys did you?
We try to answer a serious question as helpfully as we can and hey....
I'm just waiting for my good friend Thomas Coupling to stick his oar in sorry, regale us with his words of wisdom!!
Don't worry - I have dealt with Flytest in private!
Cheers
Whirlygig
We try to answer a serious question as helpfully as we can and hey....
I'm just waiting for my good friend Thomas Coupling to stick his oar in
sorry, regale us with his words of wisdom!!Don't worry - I have dealt with Flytest in private!
Cheers
Whirlygig
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"...I have witnessed the normally demure layed back type turn into a snarling cat, combined with a hint of sheer bloody stupidity..."
So for a couple of days each month women behave like men.
So for a couple of days each month women behave like men.
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Having trained my share of men and women, I can assure you there is little emotional difference. I trained a male group from a very macho country and found the blend of testosterone and ego was as emotional a mix as the cockpit could stand. Even the gentlest correction was seen as a slight upon the trainee's manhood, so virtually all cockpit communications were tailored to keep commo open. I had one fellow lose control in an emotional snit while in a 42,000 lb helo at 150 knots, and another pair got in a pushing contest while on a training hop. It was a horrendous experience, but I don't see us ever comment on this type of male problem.
A simple example: one student got a bit slow on a single engine running landing, so I gently said, "Very good! Perhaps next time, you could try to be about five knots faster?"
To this obvious slur on his manhood, the trainee replied, "But I WAS five knots faster!"
It seems to me that humans have emotions and hormones, and we must learn to deal with that, regardless of the gender of the human.
A simple example: one student got a bit slow on a single engine running landing, so I gently said, "Very good! Perhaps next time, you could try to be about five knots faster?"
To this obvious slur on his manhood, the trainee replied, "But I WAS five knots faster!"
It seems to me that humans have emotions and hormones, and we must learn to deal with that, regardless of the gender of the human.
The Original Whirly
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I know Whirlybird - you didn't seriously expect anything else from these guys did you?
Right, since this thread is clearly about to go the way of all other threads which dare to mention that some of us on this forum are female, let me save you all the time and summarise the next few posts for you....
1) Someone else, not having read Flytest's post because he had a kneejerk reaction to a title like "Flying Ladies", says that women should stay in the kitchen.
2) Some wag says that if women were meant to fly the sky would be pink.
3) Some idiot dredges up some old and suspect research that suggests women might be different from men, and deduces from this that they shouldn't be flying.
4) A well meaning soul says he's flown with lots of women, and they were really good pilots, honestly, some of them were even better than some of the men!
5) Someone says he once knew a woman pilot, just one, a very long time ago. And one day she burst into tears, and this obviously proves that she was a Bad Pilot, and therefore that all women are Bad Pilots.
6) Someone says very reasonably that gender makes no difference, that we use hands and feet and heads to fly, not certain other appendages...this person is completely and utterly and studiously ignored by everyone for the rest of the thread.
7) Someone says that he wouldn't want to be married to a woman pilot becasue he wants someone at home to do the ironing and take care of his kids. He then deduces from this, with utterly faultless logic, that therefore no other women should fly.
8) Someone else who doesn't read what went before points out that the sky isn't pink so women shouldn't be pilots...of course he's firmly convinced he's the first person in the whole world ever to say it.
9) Someone says that with the shortage of jobs in aviation, women shouldn't be taking them. He's been out of work for ages, and it's not fair; it couldn't be due to the fact he keeps trashing helicopters and yelling at colleagues and getting pissed, now could it? No definitely not, a woman took HIS job.
10) A new poster expresses amazement at the amount of sexism exhibited in this day and age. He is mystified. He too, is completely and utterly ignored.
And where are Whirlybird and Whirlygig? Out flying, or in the pub; they have more sense than to argue with this lot.
Right, now that's all settled, isn't it? Everybody happy?
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Well said, you forgot one thing only.
Some one will always think he's the first person in the world to crack a joke about cock pits and box offices!
And sometimes the sky IS PINK!!!!!!!
Blind
Some one will always think he's the first person in the world to crack a joke about cock pits and box offices!
And sometimes the sky IS PINK!!!!!!!
Blind
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Hats off
I say 'hats off to the ladies' here for there initial sensible answers, when, I for one, was expecting a bit of a back lash to the possible perceived impertinance of asking the question. But, having been mistaken, I found the replies interesting.
Good comment from Nick regarding the 'macho' element.
Most of my training was carried out by a female instructor who was absolutely brilliant - balanced, no macho issues and good fun. It's a question of knowing your limitations and being prepared to act responsibly. I remember when setting up my own business a few years ago giving up fixed wing flying since, although affording it was becoming a huge problem, the stress and preoccupation with my own thoughts meant it was safer to stop doing it.
Thankfully the business succeeded and now I can fly what I've always wanted to fly - helis!
2Sticks
Good comment from Nick regarding the 'macho' element.
Most of my training was carried out by a female instructor who was absolutely brilliant - balanced, no macho issues and good fun. It's a question of knowing your limitations and being prepared to act responsibly. I remember when setting up my own business a few years ago giving up fixed wing flying since, although affording it was becoming a huge problem, the stress and preoccupation with my own thoughts meant it was safer to stop doing it.
Thankfully the business succeeded and now I can fly what I've always wanted to fly - helis!
2Sticks
Nick I think we all want to hear more.
I had my share of macho pilots. One instructor almost killed me while showing off. Fortunately for me, he was not able to do what he claimed, that saved us from slinging a load in to the trees.
For my plank rating I had a female instructor. Thank god for that. It was pure fun - except the spin training. Ever since I have that feeling that airplanes are inheretly dangerous.
I had my share of macho pilots. One instructor almost killed me while showing off. Fortunately for me, he was not able to do what he claimed, that saved us from slinging a load in to the trees.
For my plank rating I had a female instructor. Thank god for that. It was pure fun - except the spin training. Ever since I have that feeling that airplanes are inheretly dangerous.
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Now Anne, if operations could use Match.com to arrange mutually agreeable flight schedules to take advantage of those three days, RON's would be much more enjoyable. Let's patent the software!
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As old as Methuzeller or whatever his name was, what you are talking about is really a state of mind at any particular moment in the life of man.
Its like this at my house, a love hate thing really, or mind over matter, Mrs Vfr dosn't mind, and I don't matter, one word of caution from me,... and she does what she wants.
Real men know when to do as they are told!
Vfr
Its like this at my house, a love hate thing really, or mind over matter, Mrs Vfr dosn't mind, and I don't matter, one word of caution from me,... and she does what she wants.
Real men know when to do as they are told!
Vfr
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Flying Ladies
Right you chaps! By use of this cunningly phrased question ive got the girls to give you the information that matters. Ive even got it down to the three days that offer the best chance for a conquest. Now then, if the ladies that replied, have the looks to go along with there obviously brilliant minds oooooohhhhhh.