BRITISH AIRWAYS ASKED WHY SO FEW WOMEN ARE BECOMING PILOTS, AND THE ANSWER IS SHOCKING Despite the fact that Britain has seen female airline pilots flying aircraft since 1972, a new survey shows women are put off the career path because they consider it a “man’s job” and the profession lacks female role models. Those of us missing a Y chromosome only make up six percent of the total pilot population according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. That’s just 4,000 of 130,000 pilots around the world. Even fewer are captains – and just 450 are female. Of the 3,500 pilots employed by British Airways, just 200 are women – yet the airline actually employs the largest proportion of female pilots of any UK airline. A new survey from BA asked why so many women are shying away from a career in the sky, and the answer was clear: there’s a dire lack of role models for young, aspiring female pilots to look up to. The results indicate that in the year of 2015, many of us are STILL uncomfortable with the idea of women taking on a mechanical operation job – a shocking 10 per cent said they were put off pursuing a career as a professional airline pilot because they were told it was a “man’s job” while growing up. 20 percent said they thought women could only be cabin crew. Meanwhile, 20 per cent said that, when growing up, pilots were played by men on TV and in films. A dismally low 13 per cent said they had never been on a plane flown by a female pilot. British Airways is pushing to get more women involved in aviation. Their Future Pilot Programme is a cadet training scheme which allows anyone aged between 18 and 55 to apply to become a pilot, with no previous flying experience required. The campaign is backed by TV presenter and pilot, Carol Vorderman. Source: Irish Examiner
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 04:56:26 +0000
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