To ask why pilots are automatically male?

[LockedOutOfMN]

Thanks, [Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-5719097/Inside-Heathrow-Airport-control-tower-picture-exclusive.html].

I’m married to a pilot. When he graduated, fairly recently, it was half and half men and women. There is a huge shortage of pilots right now as so many are retiring, therefore older, and that many years ago I can’t imagine it was as commonly or easily achieved for a woman. I think in time there will he many more female pilots. My daughter certainly intends to be one!

Fun fact: there are so few female airline captains worldwide that they’d all together fit on one 747.
Heard it on that easyJet documentary series that was on TV a while ago, pretty mind blowing when you think about it.

I have a female friend who is a pilot. Her parents remortgaged their house to provide her with the huge training fees but she had since been able to pay them back.

I remember once flying back from Brussels to Heathrow. Conditions for landing were bad - dark, pouring rain and a strong crosswind. She did it perfectly.

I was joking people. Calm down. Didn't you see my grin!

Huge shortfall of pilots right now

The company I work for employs quite a few.

It's not a new thing though

I was working on a trans Atlantic flight 22 years ago and took a dad and his young Son to visit the pilots

He came out and announced to the whole of the forward cabin 'there's two birds flying this plane'

Quite a few female pilots on easyjet (or maybe it's always the same lady who always does gatwick-milan)

The pilot I know could only afford to train because his dad died when he was a teenager...its very expensive training.

I know 2 pilots and both are female. One is airline and the other raf.

In fact the last 2 flights I have taken had a female poilt or co-pilot. Hopefully they are on the rise!

Although it’s expensive to train EasyJet have a scheme where you don’t have to pay up front. One of DS’s friends is going to train rather than go to university and I looked it up.

‘Why are pilots automatically male?’

We’re not. Next!

FWIW we not all sexist, serial shaggers either, even though every single mumsnet thread that mentions pilots has someone who’s next door neighbour’s hairdresser’s best friend’s mate is cabin crew and swears on Brownie’s honour that they are .

They aren't automatically male. What utter bollocks.

I've been on a flight with a female Captain and First Officer. Perfect flight and landing.

It is still a male dominated profession, but from what I see and hear there are definitely signs that that is changing.

I'm sure the recent BA 100 years documentary said that BA now has around 200 women pilots, unless I misheard. I don't think I did though.

It's a shame that the women in the article referred to pilots as he/him, given that not all pilots are male. That's what @LockedOutOfMN was referring to.

Because it’s long hours and long periods away from home I wouldn’t want to and my children would not tolerate it my husband also works funny hours

This might cheer you all up. I love this story.

www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/15/an-all-female-crew-lands-a-plane-in-saudi-arabia-but-they-cant-drive-from-the-airport/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.14ad589c5af0

Do you think if the plane has female pilots the insurance is cheaper?

That part of the article is a quote from the air traffic controller, not something written by the Mail. And she probably puts it that way because they majority of pilots she deals with are men.

Incidentally, the pilot who successfully landed the Southwestern plane which a woman was sucked out from is a woman. She was praised for showing ‘nerves of steel’.

Do you think if the plane has female pilots the insurance is cheaper?

they're not. Haven't read about Tammie Jo Shults recently?

That’s the one, Tammie Jo Shultz. Apparently that there Amelia Earhart was good ‘un.

My DC / cousin is a pilot he married a philippino lady. I was at a function when everyone was saying how she had done well for her self. When asked what she did for a living and she replied pilot, their faces hit the floor. They certainly hadn’t considered the possibility. Not sure if they were being racist or sexist.