Do male pilots like flying with females? Be honest here. I've come across many who either seem intimidated by me or condescending to me.

I'm fairly laid back, girly - but one of the guys....and I like to have fun. People see the long blonde hair and assume that I'm stupid, or they completely clam up and can't have fun with me!

Help! How can I get you guys to relax around me and react better to me?

 

The best female pilots are the ones that have nothing to prove. I don't know you personally, and I've never flown with you, so I don't know how you interact with other pilots. But if you go into the cockpit with the attitude that you should be treated any differently from a male pilot, it will show through your actions and interactions. As a result, that can result in the various responses (from other crewmembers) that you described.

Do your job and have fun, but most importantly be professional. If you go in and try to be buddy, buddy (particularly as a new FO), it can result in uncomfortable situations.

That said, there will always be an odd interaction, at least until you gain some familiarity with the crews you fly with, or more women enter the profession.

Finally, I know (and have flown with) many female pilots. Many I respect. Those that I do are darn good pilots, but they also don't fly like they have something to prove. They're confident in their own abilities, and it shows through their flying, not through their talk. On the other hand, there are those that fly like they have something to prove. Always nitpicking (themselves and others), and usually uptight and not very friendly. That can make for a long trip.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I definitely don't fly like I have something to prove and I will make sure I don't ever do that.

 

I've never had a problem, but have heard a few horror stories. Of course there are many horror stories about guys too.

I think what is unique in aviation is that you can get thrown in with anyone, including people who are not in your social demographic. In the real world people gravitate to jobs that fit their social niche, so they can have co-workers they can relate to, and not be intimidated or annoyed by constantly dealing with people they consider wierd (or vice versa). Computer techies and salesmen are different breeds.

A short, fat, crusty old regional captain with a GED, or a computer nerd are not likely to be naturally comfortable with an athlete/frat boy/cheerleader type.

If you're the athlete/cheerleader in the cockpit, it is natural for you to set the tone if the other person is a little uncomfortable. Even if you're the FO, it's just human nature. Also you don't have to be standoff-ishly professional either, just be friendly.

 

That's what I think it is Rickair...I am the athlete/cheerleader type (cheered in college and also played soccer) and I guess I expect the Capt to set the tone. I'll try to jump in more.

Keep the great tips coming!

 

I'll post what I did recently on a similiar subject. I don't care what you look like, what you wear, or what you believe as long as you don't smell!

In all seriousness. The students I have trouble with come in two types. The first is not happy with the fact that some 25 year old "kid" (who looks like he is 15) is teaching them to fly. The second, due to success in other fields (such as their profession) thinks that they can apply this and they are automatically a good pilot. The last one is the worst, and in my view the most dangerous. The first type usually comes around after a few flights or just moves to another instructor.

Be yourself, be attentive, study, and come to lessons with questions and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Woa, this could be a setup for some interesting comments.
Seriously, having read some of your other postings I see you are a newbie only in the sense of flying, not necessarily pilots. You (probably) know male pilots are often fairly shallow about women, relate better to your "physical" attributes, and may be dismissive of your intentions/abilities based on your appearance. As you (seem) to have already figured this could be a problem; my suggestion, don't over do yourself to the point of distraction! Keep the perfume to a minimum and dress conservatively, don't give your (male) instructors non aviation distractions.
Regarding career advice. If you are a mother and your husband is the main breadwinner, I strongly suggest staying as close to your home, working as a CFI, building time, keeping close and not flying for airlines. If you can get a good job that has scheduled freight to and from your "home" airport that can have you home on a home/kid friendly basis than that would be your best bet. Stay way from multi day flying (like you did as a FA) its not family friendly and frankly the money is so poor that the downside far out weighs the benefits. Good luck.

 

You don't instruct in my area do you?! I promise I don't smell.

 

You've got it right that I am a newbie in the flying sense (although having been around the industry my entire life) but not to the "airline" life. Yes, lots of pilots have appreciated the way I look, and I don't think there is anything wrong with it. So I smell good, have a few buttons undone - nothing that I don't do in daily life, but I don't think it's that big of a distraction......or is it really?

Career advice...hmmm....well, I am still up in the air about it. I can go majorly in debt to continue to get ratings, or I could just go back to being an FA. I do have a family, my kids are starting to get older and don't need me home all the time (I had children early in my marraige and young...) My husband is definitely the breadwinner, I've been a stay at home mom for almost 5 years now. I've got the itch to go back (I'm sure you know what it feels like) and want to accomplish some personal goals now that my children are older. As far as CFI goes - is that income comparable to a regional?

Thanks again for all your tips.

 

I enjoy flying with women pilots if for no other reason than I like hanging around women more than men. There is usually a period at the very beginning of a trip where you are both trying to figure each other out. Is he a nice guy? Is she a good pilot? Can I tell her an off colored joke? Is she a preachers daughter? (they are usually the party animals) that sort of stuff. I flew with a female FO yesterday who used to be an 11th grade history teacher. Her husband is a counselor at a hospice and she seemed comfortable in the airplane. She wasn't a flirt or party type and despite that I gave her the outbound leg as I am such a nice guy. She was high on the approach and had to circle to another runway but that is another subject. I always like the female plots that bring a little treat with them to snack on in the cockpit. I especially like it when they offer to make a starbucks run although I usually end up spending more on them than they do on me. I haven't ran into the incompetent female pilot type that people sometimes talk about. I think that since I used to be a pimp and was around many girls I seem to work well in a co-ed environment. I just bought a diamond studded cane that says PIMP on it and it will be interesting to get a read on how my FOs respond to it as I enter the cockpit. I will not ask for a percentage of any earnings the girls make so long as they don't make fun of my landings or throw out my USA Today before I have read it. I'll take a nice looking female pilot any day over a dude. It's the Calcapt way!