AGREED Rick, wasn't trying to take the thread that direction.

But if you were in the airlines in 2000-2001 you'd know what I was getting at.

And yeah, it's a screwed up game.

the direction this thread has gone should answer your question. just do your job, do it well and stay above reproach.

In college I read an article that claimed that ever since the 1920's there has only been around 5% of pilots that were women. In the late 1980's UAL made a huge effort to hire more female pilots however they still only managed to reach 5.5%. The problem was that they discovered that by 28 most women aviators quit to have a family. The solution was to step out of the traditional hiring process and strive to hire younger women at nearly any experience level since they knew that they were going to loose them anyway and needed to increase their percentages.

Skyhigh

Nova, I wouldn't worry too much about all that. As long as you are a good pilot, pay attention to details, work well in the cockpit, are self confident and know your own limitations, I don't see why you can't succeed in a traditionally male dominated profession. I, too, am in a profession like that, although there are increasing numbers of women. Those who rise to the top have the same characteristics regardless of gender.

Nova
All I can add to the posts concerning marriage and kids, is I hope you are currently with or will find a husband who is up to date with this decade.

From an instructor's point of view, I have trained female pilots in the recent years and have had a few good female students learn how to fly the airplane. I currently have one female student that always shows up on time, complains about the homework I give her, but shows up prepared and ready to learn. Though she has not flown the airplane by herself yet (pre-solo) she is making good progress. I just need her to get confident about her landings.

Ahh.... but here comes the flip-side of the coin. I have another female student who has changed flight schools and instuctors alot and wants to become an airline pilot. She always shows up late to her lesson, unprepared, and will ask me if it is okay to bring her 12 year old daughter in the back seat from time to time. One time we had to wait for her to apply her lip-gloss before lokking at the checklist on how to start the airplane. I am still mentoring her because I am a very patient person and she likes me for that. However I think she realizes that she needs to marry a rich man and then fly on the side for fun. ( More power to her because I am trying to find a rich girl that will allow me to fly on the side for fun)!

But all kidding aside my second student that I described is not the person you want to be. That just plays into the sterotypes that some older men might have. The first student that I dealt with is usually the norm that I have seen so far for most girls. Very studious and diligent in the aeronautical knowledge area, however sometimes doing the dirty work of a crosswind landing can be a little overwhelming in some cases because of lack of confidence.

That's my story and I'm sticking too it.

But all kidding aside my second student that I described is not the person you want to be. That just plays into the sterotypes that some older men might have. The first student that I dealt with is usually the norm that I have seen so far for most girls. Very studious and diligent in the aeronautical knowledge area, however sometimes doing the dirty work of a crosswind landing can be a little overwhelming in some cases because of lack of confidence.

That's my story and I'm sticking too it.[/QUOTE]

Speaking of older men and MY counter story to this post. There has only been one time that I have been so scared in my 15,000 hours as a pilot that I had to change my shorts at the end of the flight. It was when one of these "older guys" I was flying with was cleared to land on the right runway at CVG. He decides to line up for the centre runway which happened to contain a Comair jet waiting for take off clearance. We were instructed to go around and turn left. This "veteran airline" pilot wannabe decides to turn right. There are many more stories where that one came from. In conclusion, there are lousy female pilots and lousy male pilots. Gender doesn't play a role and you can't generalize.

Hello,

I wouldn't be overally concered with the whole gender thing. This is such a different society now, where everything is changing to meet and fit all demographics. I have both civilian and military flying experience and have flown with woman in both flight decks and what iI see now is in order to pursue a career like any other field is that you must be competitive! You must always make sure that we you come to the table ensure that you have all the skills and experience to match and beat your competitor. So, take advantage of all resources and you will do just fine! Don't feel that you will have to sufice to the glass ceiling or anything like that, believe me those days are gone in the aviation field and its not a gender thing... its whom has the right qualifications based on there experience! Good Luck... keep you head up!

More female pilots: yes
More difficult to climb the ranks: depends (see below)

Keep this in mind: A female pilot will be a minority. In any male-dominant profession you will be noticed and the "good ol'e boys" will point out any mistakes you do and your competency (in the crew room when you are not listening). The same mistake/competency of a male pilot will not get the same level of attention. Basically, you will have to be twice as good to get half the recognition you deserve. The most important is that you speak the "male pilot language": Don't act like a sissy girl and don't expect preferential treatment. Guy's expect you to do/act/behave like they do, and this goes for all professions.

I would have to agree with Rickair here. Although this happened in the past, it's not that common to see today. Sure, it probably exists. But it does seem there is less and less than there was even 7-8 years ago.

AGAIN, when is/was it EVER ok for ANY minority demographic to expect ANY kind of special treatment based on gender/race?