Old 05-01-2009 | 09:41 AM
  #6  
kalyx522
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Student Pilot
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Originally Posted by PLTwnab

I have not been through the hiring process myself but do you consider aviation an easy profession to get into compared with men?

An easy professison to get into compared with men? No, it's not an easy profession to get into to begin with, and no, it's not an easy profession to get into compared with men.
It's not easy because it requires a lot of dedication and determination. I think that in the U.S., flying is something that any average person could do, as long as they have the determination to stick it out through rough patches whether during training, hiring, job loss, etc.
Compared with men? Well, regardless of whether you are a boy or girl, you have to endure the same training and checkrides. Yes, the capability of each individual and also the quality training varies to a certain extent, but in the end we all had to pass FAA checkrides. So why would a woman have an easier time getting into the profession than a man? It's not like I wink at the DE and he passes the checkride, and then this procedure repeats itself every time through private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, CFI, airline training, upgrade, etc. If only life was that easy!
I had an easy time getting to a regional, but so did 1000s of guys who got hired during the same regional hiring boom as I did. But even regionals don't hire you just for the virtue of being a minority, if you suck. I know this because I failed the interview at my top 2 choices. If it were easier for me just because I was a woman, I would've gotten hired at either of those places even though I was not the best candidate.
If your question "is the profession easy to get into compared to men" refers to getting hired at a major... I am sure you've opened the floodgates to some opinions on here and I'm kind of annoyed that you'd ask this question because this is such a tired old topic. I am tired of guys telling me I'll have an easy time getting into a major - right now I'm trudging it out just like them, having to work two full-time jobs even, and then when/if I get to a major, who are you to say I had it any easier than you? I had just as much of a tough time during flight training as some guys, and I worked hard not to quit. Last year I probably worked the most duty and flying hours than any other pilot in my company, and I would continue doing so if I had the choice. I know I'll be stuck at my crappy regional for as long as any of my peers, it's not like I'll suffer the regional life any less because I have boobs. So can you understand my resentment of the assumption that I have it easier than my male counterparts? The sex to me isn't even an issue, everyone has their own obstacles and challenges.
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