Why so few girls ?
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Calm down, ladies, please 
There are more than enough problems to deal with within aviation (which is the point of this site, if not this forum), without trying to solve medicine's problems as well!
I would appreciate it if we could keep the discussion to the subject of female airline pilots. While there may be some parallels in the medical world, we risk being sidetracked by your disagreement - and that does nothing useful for our discussion here.
Thanks. Seconds out, round 4.....
There are more than enough problems to deal with within aviation (which is the point of this site, if not this forum), without trying to solve medicine's problems as well!I would appreciate it if we could keep the discussion to the subject of female airline pilots. While there may be some parallels in the medical world, we risk being sidetracked by your disagreement - and that does nothing useful for our discussion here.
Thanks. Seconds out, round 4.....
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What bizarre forum. I have been flying helicopters for the Navy for nearly 20 years and only recently had the novel experinece of flying with female "observers" (navigators). I think their job is far more demanding than mine and I have been particularly impressed with their cool and spare mental capacity particularly when under pressure (chop ride). Sadly one or two didn't make it, but then so have many men before them.
I belive very much that Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Frankly I would rather have a Martian and a Venutian in a cockpit when it was all going horribly wrong then two from the same planet. CRM is considerably better and mission is accomplished with the same degree of panash as it ever was - perhaps more.
Come on girls lets see more of you in the front seat.
I belive very much that Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Frankly I would rather have a Martian and a Venutian in a cockpit when it was all going horribly wrong then two from the same planet. CRM is considerably better and mission is accomplished with the same degree of panash as it ever was - perhaps more.
Come on girls lets see more of you in the front seat.
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this is a bit second hand so don’t flame me.
i know that lots os people who train as pilots have done no aptitude testing, but early flying lessons might have the same effect cause if you don’t do very well you probably wont want a job like flying
but i understand that about half the guys who take the raf aptitude tests pass but only 10% of the girls do. i think the gapan tests are the same ones. the girls who pass are just as good as the guys – just our skills for things are different so there are fewer girls with what it takes to succeed as pilots than guys.
the obvious question is their bias in the tests? youll have to ask the raf that but the guy who told me this said that the raf have been trying to increase the numbers of girls they recruit for ages and have tried altering the tests and lowering the pass mark for girls and anything else but come up with the same answer all the time.
i know that lots os people who train as pilots have done no aptitude testing, but early flying lessons might have the same effect cause if you don’t do very well you probably wont want a job like flying
but i understand that about half the guys who take the raf aptitude tests pass but only 10% of the girls do. i think the gapan tests are the same ones. the girls who pass are just as good as the guys – just our skills for things are different so there are fewer girls with what it takes to succeed as pilots than guys.
the obvious question is their bias in the tests? youll have to ask the raf that but the guy who told me this said that the raf have been trying to increase the numbers of girls they recruit for ages and have tried altering the tests and lowering the pass mark for girls and anything else but come up with the same answer all the time.
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RAF & GAPAN Aptitude Tests
I am probably wading into a subject that I know nothing about, as I have never done any sort of aptitude test for flying.
Rather than assert that such tests are biased in favour of men, can anyone shed any light on the relative weighting of skills, in such tests.
For instance, it is claimed that the average man (whatever average is) has better hand-eye coordination, & spatial awareness, than the average woman.
On the other hand, the average women is supposedly better at multi-tasking, inter-personal skills & communication.
I can appreciate that the RAF may well require more of the "male" characteristics, in selecting trainees for fast jets.
The GAPAN tests are presuambly designed mainly for selecting trainees for airlines & GA. Has due weight been given to the "female" skills, that may well be of more relevance for these jobs? Or, are the GAPAN tests still biased towards RAF skills requirements?
Rather than assert that such tests are biased in favour of men, can anyone shed any light on the relative weighting of skills, in such tests.
For instance, it is claimed that the average man (whatever average is) has better hand-eye coordination, & spatial awareness, than the average woman.
On the other hand, the average women is supposedly better at multi-tasking, inter-personal skills & communication.
I can appreciate that the RAF may well require more of the "male" characteristics, in selecting trainees for fast jets.
The GAPAN tests are presuambly designed mainly for selecting trainees for airlines & GA. Has due weight been given to the "female" skills, that may well be of more relevance for these jobs? Or, are the GAPAN tests still biased towards RAF skills requirements?
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The aptitude tests used by the RAF, GAPAN and others are entirely devoted to assessing the motor skills and spatial awareness abilities of a candidate. These skills are the fundamental requirements of a pilot, and can't be 'traded off' against other skills or abilities, no matter how useful. At the end of the day, you still have to be able find your destination airfield when your navaids have packed in, to get your aeroplane on the ground with half the engines out, on a sh*tty night in the rain and howling crosswind, while remaining aware of the relative positions of traffic in your vicinity. This is not negotiable.
It's not just a 'claim', it has been demonstrated over many years of testing that, in general, males are better at these skills than females. That doesn't mean that no women have them, or that the most talented women aren't at least as talented as the best men. But it does mean that you are going to struggle when you aim for equal numbers, as you would have to attract a far greater proportion of the existing suitably-able women than men. It's unlikely to happen.
Remember, the fundamental tenet should be 'equality of opportunity'. Any person, regardless of race, gender or whatever, should have the chance to qualify in any trade, but some trades have demands that cannot be waived for the benefit of political correctness. Within the limits of current technology, the need to have the aptitude to fly is as basic as the need for a pilot to be able to see and hear. It's a shame that more wannabes of either sex don't get themselves tested before potentially wasting huge amounts of money!
It's not just a 'claim', it has been demonstrated over many years of testing that, in general, males are better at these skills than females. That doesn't mean that no women have them, or that the most talented women aren't at least as talented as the best men. But it does mean that you are going to struggle when you aim for equal numbers, as you would have to attract a far greater proportion of the existing suitably-able women than men. It's unlikely to happen.
Remember, the fundamental tenet should be 'equality of opportunity'. Any person, regardless of race, gender or whatever, should have the chance to qualify in any trade, but some trades have demands that cannot be waived for the benefit of political correctness. Within the limits of current technology, the need to have the aptitude to fly is as basic as the need for a pilot to be able to see and hear. It's a shame that more wannabes of either sex don't get themselves tested before potentially wasting huge amounts of money!
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Scroggs , thanks for the prompt reply, which answered my question completely.
As a woman, I am very much against moving the goal posts for females, just to ensure that a required "quota" of women, get admitted to any career or organisation.
On the other hand, in your scenario of "a sh*tty night...", female skills such as multi-tasking, might well be useful, so long as the woman had the rest of the "male" skills, required to handle that situation.
As a woman, I am very much against moving the goal posts for females, just to ensure that a required "quota" of women, get admitted to any career or organisation.
On the other hand, in your scenario of "a sh*tty night...", female skills such as multi-tasking, might well be useful, so long as the woman had the rest of the "male" skills, required to handle that situation.
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i should have added that there are lots of bits of the tests and in some parts women do better than men & in some the men score best - probably as you say DBC, women do better at those with multi-taskin etc
its the final overall score made up of the tests where women often fail. i dont know but i imagine that lots of time and money has been spent validating the tests as scroggs said they've been going a long time
so even if there were equal numbers of men and women starting out (which i doubt there are) there would be much fewer women getting as far as a commercial school either being put off by aptitude testing or because they find it tough and dont enjoy flying. from that there would be an apparant male dominence and lack of female role models, making it less likely that so many women would be attracted - a vicious circle. i dont know but it seems a plausable reason for the lack of women in the profession.
the trouble is that all the successful women will not identify with these problems and will dismiss this argument as it does not reflect their own experience.
its the final overall score made up of the tests where women often fail. i dont know but i imagine that lots of time and money has been spent validating the tests as scroggs said they've been going a long time
so even if there were equal numbers of men and women starting out (which i doubt there are) there would be much fewer women getting as far as a commercial school either being put off by aptitude testing or because they find it tough and dont enjoy flying. from that there would be an apparant male dominence and lack of female role models, making it less likely that so many women would be attracted - a vicious circle. i dont know but it seems a plausable reason for the lack of women in the profession.
the trouble is that all the successful women will not identify with these problems and will dismiss this argument as it does not reflect their own experience.
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Some observations
Just thought I'd share ten years of instructing experience...on average, I've found that girls (including me!) take nearly twice as long to go solo as the boys. Often the reason for this is lack of self esteem and belief that they CAN land an aeroplane on their own, manifested in reluctance to make command decisions and constantly looking for approval and confirmation that they are doing the right thing; trying too hard and getting in a muddle, and giving up too easily. These are typical "girl" things, not just in aviation; but a few of the boys have these problems too.
But once the girls have overcome these self-doubts they often outstrip the boys in multi tasking under pressure, preparation, communication and attention to detail. Important skills for a professional pilot.
In general, when it comes to mistakes in the early stages, the girls make silly ones but the boys are more likely to make potentially dangerous ones, and boys are more unpredictable in the way they react to simulated emergency situations. But there is no doubt that the boys often have the advantage in motor skills.
Life would be boring if we were all the same
But once the girls have overcome these self-doubts they often outstrip the boys in multi tasking under pressure, preparation, communication and attention to detail. Important skills for a professional pilot.
In general, when it comes to mistakes in the early stages, the girls make silly ones but the boys are more likely to make potentially dangerous ones, and boys are more unpredictable in the way they react to simulated emergency situations. But there is no doubt that the boys often have the advantage in motor skills.
Life would be boring if we were all the same
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Why so few girls?
Because despite what many people think, prejudice is alive and well in aviation to a huge extent. And I should know. I was over 40 when I started flying; I'd travelled the world, done all sorts of things, and it wasn't a second career for me - must have been about the sixth. And I coudn't believe the way things were. OK, for those who don't realise, let me take you through it.
You're female, you walk into a flying school. About the first thing you notice is that there are so few other women there, if any. Someone asks you what you want, and is really really surprised that you say you want to learn to fly.
You start your PPL. You're probably the only woman on the course. Even if you're not underconfident and untechnically minded, everyone expects you to be. You mention that you're thinking of going commercial; everyone is astounded. In my case I thought is was because of my age - but no, it was because I was female; men older than me thought of a career change, and no-one turned a hair. Everyone wonders where on earth you got the money. Was it from your parents, or your husband? Because you can't possibly have earned it all yourself; women don't get those sort of jobs do they?
You start to hourbuild. You take male passengers with you to other airfields. Everyone assumes your passenger is the pilot. You get comments such as "Oh, do you really fly" so often that they become normal. If you and a male friend share flying, everyone assumes the good landings were his, and the bad ones yours.
You go to CPL/ATPL groundschool. You're still the only female on most courses. If you've got this far, you probably don't care by now. In fact, by now everyone's telling you how wonderful you are, for doing the same things the guys are doing. You're not wonderful, you think, just normal. You just happen to have different bumps and appendages. And maybe slightly different abilities, but hey, flying isn't that difficult; most people who want to do it can, so who cares.
Why so few girls? Because, in summary, things haven't changed much in the nearly 100 years since since the Wright brothers first took to the air. And who in their right mind wants to put up with all that? Most of the things I've mentioned above happened to me; the ones that didn't happened to friends of mine. And please, don't give me that crap about women looking after the kids; when will everyone, including the government, realise that kids are the responsibility of BOTH parents.
I used to think I'd been born 20 years or so too early. Now I think maybe it was more like 200 years. Or maybe I'm still being hopeful. Maybe things will never change.
Because despite what many people think, prejudice is alive and well in aviation to a huge extent. And I should know. I was over 40 when I started flying; I'd travelled the world, done all sorts of things, and it wasn't a second career for me - must have been about the sixth. And I coudn't believe the way things were. OK, for those who don't realise, let me take you through it.
You're female, you walk into a flying school. About the first thing you notice is that there are so few other women there, if any. Someone asks you what you want, and is really really surprised that you say you want to learn to fly.
You start your PPL. You're probably the only woman on the course. Even if you're not underconfident and untechnically minded, everyone expects you to be. You mention that you're thinking of going commercial; everyone is astounded. In my case I thought is was because of my age - but no, it was because I was female; men older than me thought of a career change, and no-one turned a hair. Everyone wonders where on earth you got the money. Was it from your parents, or your husband? Because you can't possibly have earned it all yourself; women don't get those sort of jobs do they?
You start to hourbuild. You take male passengers with you to other airfields. Everyone assumes your passenger is the pilot. You get comments such as "Oh, do you really fly" so often that they become normal. If you and a male friend share flying, everyone assumes the good landings were his, and the bad ones yours.
You go to CPL/ATPL groundschool. You're still the only female on most courses. If you've got this far, you probably don't care by now. In fact, by now everyone's telling you how wonderful you are, for doing the same things the guys are doing. You're not wonderful, you think, just normal. You just happen to have different bumps and appendages. And maybe slightly different abilities, but hey, flying isn't that difficult; most people who want to do it can, so who cares.
Why so few girls? Because, in summary, things haven't changed much in the nearly 100 years since since the Wright brothers first took to the air. And who in their right mind wants to put up with all that? Most of the things I've mentioned above happened to me; the ones that didn't happened to friends of mine. And please, don't give me that crap about women looking after the kids; when will everyone, including the government, realise that kids are the responsibility of BOTH parents.
I used to think I'd been born 20 years or so too early. Now I think maybe it was more like 200 years. Or maybe I'm still being hopeful. Maybe things will never change.
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looking for something to prove????
Sally
you sound as if you are Daddys girl but trying to show us that you have something to prove....
Who cares whether you are a guy or a girl as long as you can do the job.....
you sound as if you are Daddys girl but trying to show us that you have something to prove....
Who cares whether you are a guy or a girl as long as you can do the job.....
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Its extraordinary how, on an anonymous forum like this, otherwise normal people jump to conclusions about people based on little or no evidence and resort to personal comment about people they do not know. There must be an analogy with the psychology of road rage; isolated from social norms by the metal and glass cocoon, or in this case the PC and telephone line.
Stargazer, you flatter yourself. The only person I have to prove anything to is myself. Although, as Scroggs describes above its impossible to not to be influenced by the enthusiasm for flying of a parent. Does that make him a Daddy’s boy?
You know what’s really sad about this thread? It’s absolutely clear that prejudice is endemic in the piloting profession. And not just gender prejudice, although I don’t want to open that debate. It doesn’t take much reading of passionate contributions from Whirlybird and others here, and on other treads, to realise that these are not wilting lilies, stroppy feminists or otherwise PC motivated; they are (or were) just wannabes who would like to be treated just like everyone else. Even behind the forums’ anonymity, I doubt we’re going to get contributions from the prejudiced. I suspect that the (hopefully) majority are pretty ashamed to be associated with the views of those described in Whirlybird’s post. And this from a profession that is so proud of its progress in team-working/CRM and all that.
Stargazer, you flatter yourself. The only person I have to prove anything to is myself. Although, as Scroggs describes above its impossible to not to be influenced by the enthusiasm for flying of a parent. Does that make him a Daddy’s boy?
You know what’s really sad about this thread? It’s absolutely clear that prejudice is endemic in the piloting profession. And not just gender prejudice, although I don’t want to open that debate. It doesn’t take much reading of passionate contributions from Whirlybird and others here, and on other treads, to realise that these are not wilting lilies, stroppy feminists or otherwise PC motivated; they are (or were) just wannabes who would like to be treated just like everyone else. Even behind the forums’ anonymity, I doubt we’re going to get contributions from the prejudiced. I suspect that the (hopefully) majority are pretty ashamed to be associated with the views of those described in Whirlybird’s post. And this from a profession that is so proud of its progress in team-working/CRM and all that.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Ignore the nae sayers and be the best you can be. Then no one can complain.
Go for it 100% but don't forget to have fun. Life is too bloody short not to.
Any way, if any one gives me gip, I just go for a ride on my Ducati.
Go for it 100% but don't forget to have fun. Life is too bloody short not to.
Any way, if any one gives me gip, I just go for a ride on my Ducati.
The Original Whirly
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Yeah, Sal, you got it. That's how it is. People will tell you to get used to it. Sometimes what they mean is that they'd rather you kept quiet about it. Well, you can if you like; nothing wrong with that. But I won't shut up just because people would like it better if I did; I speak as I find it. And a lot of people don't like me for it, but that's tough.
But let's be fair, not everyone's like that. And it's more the general public and near the beginning; the further you get, the less prejudice. Much much less in commercial aviation. Or so I've found; I don't know really yet, and as a helicopter pilot (mainly) I don't know about the airlines.
To add to what I said earlier, there are other reasons why there are "so few girls". Certainly when I was growing up it wouldn't have been something you even considered, and I suspect that hasn't changed much over the years. You have to consider it as a possibility. Even when I first went into a flying school, the idea of being a commercial pilot just didn't occur to me. I think I sort of felt like a young American female helicopter pilot I know, who said : "When I went for my demo ride (trial lesson) I thought only Gods and Superpeople became helicopter pilots. I said: 'You mean I can do this, ME?' "
But the longer I fly, the more I wonder if it isn't that women in our society are conditioned to think of others all the time, rather than what THEY want. Let's face it, you've got to be single minded to the point of absolute selfishness to get the dosh and do all the work and jump through all the hoops to be a commerciall pilot. Men are expected to do that sort of thing, and admired and encouraged for it. Women aren't.
So there you have it, as I see it - not even knowing the possibility, prejudice from the start, and no support. Jeez, it's pretty surprising that even 2% of commercial pilots are female, not that there aren't more.
But never mind; your aircraft doesn't care that you're female.
But let's be fair, not everyone's like that. And it's more the general public and near the beginning; the further you get, the less prejudice. Much much less in commercial aviation. Or so I've found; I don't know really yet, and as a helicopter pilot (mainly) I don't know about the airlines.
To add to what I said earlier, there are other reasons why there are "so few girls". Certainly when I was growing up it wouldn't have been something you even considered, and I suspect that hasn't changed much over the years. You have to consider it as a possibility. Even when I first went into a flying school, the idea of being a commercial pilot just didn't occur to me. I think I sort of felt like a young American female helicopter pilot I know, who said : "When I went for my demo ride (trial lesson) I thought only Gods and Superpeople became helicopter pilots. I said: 'You mean I can do this, ME?' "
But the longer I fly, the more I wonder if it isn't that women in our society are conditioned to think of others all the time, rather than what THEY want. Let's face it, you've got to be single minded to the point of absolute selfishness to get the dosh and do all the work and jump through all the hoops to be a commerciall pilot. Men are expected to do that sort of thing, and admired and encouraged for it. Women aren't.
So there you have it, as I see it - not even knowing the possibility, prejudice from the start, and no support. Jeez, it's pretty surprising that even 2% of commercial pilots are female, not that there aren't more.
But never mind; your aircraft doesn't care that you're female.
Moderator
Whirly, I'm sorry to hear that you have experiencd prejudice. Maybe it's a helicopter thing. I must say I have rarely heard one of us girls on the radio in a chopper. On the rare occasions I treat myself to a half hour jolly in an R22 I'm too busy grinning from ear to ear to notice these things!
I've never noticed prejudice in fixed wing, but then I was used to being in a "male" environment, the only girl in a boys school, and a career in farming where I was the only female farm manager in the district made me used to being among the boys and just getting on with it with a good sense of humour; and later giving as good as I got when the comments about the sky not being pink etc came along.
The only "girl" problem I had when learning to fly was occasional harrassment from dirty old men (not exclusive to aviation) calling themselves "instructors", who I refused to fly with again, and as an instructor the occasional randy male student. (and once a randy female student!!) The wedding ring and large Action Man lookalike husband has been a big deterrent to these types I must admit, but I managed OK before my lovely hubby came along.
It's only natural that some of the older men in the industry think of girls as fit only to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, as they may have had those role models in their youth. (especially here in Aus) Thankfully both them and those role models are a rare and decreasing breed these days.
Despite the achievements of female pilots over the years, we are still seen by the ill informed as pioneers. I dislike the "you've done so well - for a girl" comments as much as anyone, but just take them in context, often the person who says it realises how stupid and patronising it sounds straight after they've said it without having it pointed out to them.
Anyway Whirly it sounds like you've done really well despite the prejudice. What a clever girl you are!
I've never noticed prejudice in fixed wing, but then I was used to being in a "male" environment, the only girl in a boys school, and a career in farming where I was the only female farm manager in the district made me used to being among the boys and just getting on with it with a good sense of humour; and later giving as good as I got when the comments about the sky not being pink etc came along.
The only "girl" problem I had when learning to fly was occasional harrassment from dirty old men (not exclusive to aviation) calling themselves "instructors", who I refused to fly with again, and as an instructor the occasional randy male student. (and once a randy female student!!) The wedding ring and large Action Man lookalike husband has been a big deterrent to these types I must admit, but I managed OK before my lovely hubby came along.
It's only natural that some of the older men in the industry think of girls as fit only to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, as they may have had those role models in their youth. (especially here in Aus) Thankfully both them and those role models are a rare and decreasing breed these days.
Despite the achievements of female pilots over the years, we are still seen by the ill informed as pioneers. I dislike the "you've done so well - for a girl" comments as much as anyone, but just take them in context, often the person who says it realises how stupid and patronising it sounds straight after they've said it without having it pointed out to them.
Anyway Whirly it sounds like you've done really well despite the prejudice. What a clever girl you are!
Last edited by Charlie Foxtrot India; 3rd Sep 2002 at 15:10.
The Original Whirly
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Jeez, thanks Charlie Foxtrot India 
I'm gonna get flamed here for sure, but I think it's British thing. I haven't been to Oz, but I spent three weeks in April flying in the US, and it's so so different there. So many more people fly, for a start. And although female pilots are still a minority, it's no big deal. Nobody treated me as anything other than completely normal - just another pilot. It was wonderful! Over here the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) are treated by many male pilots as a joke; in the US the Whirly-Girls (International but US based female helicopter pilots) get a huge amount of male support and are admired. In the UK it happens with f/w too; I started off with f/w, and I know loads of women who fly who'll mainly say the same sort of thing. So no, it's not just me. And some things you can hardly help noticing, like when a (female) friend and I won the "Dawn to Dusk" flying competition last year, and a jealous competitor asked one of the judges if he'd given it to us because we were female.
The judge was as annoyed at being accused of bias as we were at the assumption that it couldn't be because we were good. But that's how it is here. And yeah, I'm used to it, but I'm not gonna pretend I like it or that it doesn't matter - I don't like it and it DEFINITELY DOES MATTER!!!!!
I'm gonna get flamed here for sure, but I think it's British thing. I haven't been to Oz, but I spent three weeks in April flying in the US, and it's so so different there. So many more people fly, for a start. And although female pilots are still a minority, it's no big deal. Nobody treated me as anything other than completely normal - just another pilot. It was wonderful! Over here the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) are treated by many male pilots as a joke; in the US the Whirly-Girls (International but US based female helicopter pilots) get a huge amount of male support and are admired. In the UK it happens with f/w too; I started off with f/w, and I know loads of women who fly who'll mainly say the same sort of thing. So no, it's not just me. And some things you can hardly help noticing, like when a (female) friend and I won the "Dawn to Dusk" flying competition last year, and a jealous competitor asked one of the judges if he'd given it to us because we were female.
The judge was as annoyed at being accused of bias as we were at the assumption that it couldn't be because we were good. But that's how it is here. And yeah, I'm used to it, but I'm not gonna pretend I like it or that it doesn't matter - I don't like it and it DEFINITELY DOES MATTER!!!!!
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As a lady i feel compelled to write.
looking through this post I realise my story is quite similar to many of the girls.
I wanted to be a pilot, my school thought that was a silly idea many an hour spent in the careers office trying to persuade me that girls didn t fly jets. I had a fight on my hands and i can say they made me more detemined to do it.
My dad is a pilot and although he originally didn t htink girls should fly he soon changed his mind when his little girl said she wanted to do it.
I was lucky I went to training school and never once felt like I shouldn t be there by my course. It wasn t until I d nearly finished that I got negative comments by new trainees. Mainly male sponsered saying I shouldn t do it. All I was going to do is fly for a few years, marry get pregnant and then leave. I should "get out the way and let the men do their job" This only made me more determined again.
I found that the women tended to get a first time IR pass I don t know why but I m assuming like me they had to prove they were good. When I passed I was told I must give good h**d, as thats the only way I d pass. One of my instructors said that you can t be one of the lads you have to be one of the best.
I think the reason less women do it is through many reasons. One being, at my school it wasn t a career option and there was shock at the mention of it. Two is that it doesn t appeal to alot of girls and Three Top Gun didn t have female pilots in it. Since I ve got my CPL and IR i had many of my friends and girls at my old school become interested in the idea. I added another option at my old schools career list and proved you don t have to be super clever to do.
looking through this post I realise my story is quite similar to many of the girls.
I wanted to be a pilot, my school thought that was a silly idea many an hour spent in the careers office trying to persuade me that girls didn t fly jets. I had a fight on my hands and i can say they made me more detemined to do it.
My dad is a pilot and although he originally didn t htink girls should fly he soon changed his mind when his little girl said she wanted to do it.
I was lucky I went to training school and never once felt like I shouldn t be there by my course. It wasn t until I d nearly finished that I got negative comments by new trainees. Mainly male sponsered saying I shouldn t do it. All I was going to do is fly for a few years, marry get pregnant and then leave. I should "get out the way and let the men do their job" This only made me more determined again.
I found that the women tended to get a first time IR pass I don t know why but I m assuming like me they had to prove they were good. When I passed I was told I must give good h**d, as thats the only way I d pass. One of my instructors said that you can t be one of the lads you have to be one of the best.
I think the reason less women do it is through many reasons. One being, at my school it wasn t a career option and there was shock at the mention of it. Two is that it doesn t appeal to alot of girls and Three Top Gun didn t have female pilots in it. Since I ve got my CPL and IR i had many of my friends and girls at my old school become interested in the idea. I added another option at my old schools career list and proved you don t have to be super clever to do.
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SO FEW GIRLS?... Where are you looking???
That's a complete fallacy, ask any of the BA cadet-ers. And indeed if you know anyone in BA just ask them if they have noticed a trend in the last few years. Their equal opportunities are "more equal" if you are a "Miss Pilotess".
Whatever happened to ..."..best person for the job..."!
Whatever happened to ..."..best person for the job..."!
Join Date: Nov 1999
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I learnt to fly in the U.S. & worked there for several years before coming to the UK. As whirlybird says, over there it's no big deal, even if you are still in a minority. Within the industry in the UK, apart from the occassional dirty old man, I've never experienced any real problems and am treated just as another pilot.
The biggest hang up in the UK is outside the industry. When getting car insurance, mortgage application or whatever:
"What's your occupation?"
"Pilot"
"What?"
"Airline Pilot"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said "pilot""
"No, not your husband's occupation, what's your job?"
etc. etc.
And getting introduced to anyone at a party or wherever, expect to get "she's an airline pilot" permanently added to your name.
The biggest hang up in the UK is outside the industry. When getting car insurance, mortgage application or whatever:
"What's your occupation?"
"Pilot"
"What?"
"Airline Pilot"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said "pilot""
"No, not your husband's occupation, what's your job?"
etc. etc.
And getting introduced to anyone at a party or wherever, expect to get "she's an airline pilot" permanently added to your name.