When I was a kid, $100K/year was the benchmark for real success, beyond what most folks could attain. Today it's $200K...inflation drives on.

 

X2. Flyingirl is half right in that some of our bro bases are closing. But as far as shrinking and bro transitions plugging things up, I disagree. In fact, the bro transitions are a saving grace right now since we are short staffed and can't hire quickly enough. Still tons of movement here and it's not slowing down.

Also, your 6% women comment....absolutely irrelevant. That's on the ladies! Aviation is the most equal profession in terms of gender treatment except when it comes to hiring practices where ladies still have the advantage. With the current climate in aviation it's basically a no brainer for a woman.

 

The problem is not fair access for women, it's lack of interest in the first place. Most of my male non-pilot friends always want to hear about aviation...none of the women ever do. Women who complain about low representation are using those statistics to promote misplaced sympathy and further unnecessary artificial advantage for themselves. Why is it a problem if women are just not interested in the field? It's a free country, do what makes you happy. I don't want somebody in aviation who's just doing it to make a statement.

Minorities are a different issue, they may be limited by socio-economic circumstances from pursuing an aviation career, which requires money and education. I still don't believe in affirmative action, but rather prefer to solve this problem at the root... improve early education quality and availability, and also outreach.

 

So far that decision has paid off. Most of April will be a nice vacation.

As of now all but about 30 bro pilots in each seat have been awarded transition classes starting in the coming weeks. The next standing bid will cover the rest. Its not like there are hundreds of us looming around... it has been a well thought out draw-down, albeit slightly sad for the Brasilia family!

 

Whoa. So women may not be interested in aviation because women as a whole generally aren't, but socioeconomic conditions may be the reason minorities aren't interested in aviation? My BS detector is going off. Aviation careers are a lot harder for women to hold due to our patriarchal society, which is another huge holdup for recruiting women into this field. Who wants to invest the time and money into this career when you are floating the idea of having a family?

What if minorities just aren't interested because they are interested in other things as a whole, as women are? Or what if a poor white male really wants to be a pilot, but for the same socio-economic reasons he can't. So the poor black/purple/orange kid gets financial help and becomes a pilot but the poor white kid can't fulfill his dream? That insane argument is the root of a lot of the modern racism, which in 2015 should be gone from civilized societies. But the discrimination against the white male by modern day America sets us back several decades.

I agree with everything else you said, I just don't think anyone should get anything free/subsidized in this country based on skin color or gender. That form of discrimination breeds contempt and causes more problems than it solves IMO.

 

No I said fewer women are interested in aviation, therefore fewer women pursue aviation, which is a not a "problem". If the lack of interest is because they want to have kids and stay home with them, nothing wrong with that either. Nobody is forcing anybody to get married, have kids, or assume any particular gender role in this century in the western world. Suit yourself.

20 years ago, I would have agreed that women would face resistance...not at the corporate level but more in the cockpit culture. But essentially all of the old dinosaurs are retired (or would have been if not for age 65...).

Minorities *may* be interested in aviation but not have the education/finances to pursue it. Also possible that they may be interested in other things instead, due to cultural influences. But like I said I prefer to solve that problem at it's roots rather just hand out freebies for somebodies entire life.

 

I agree, except that I know white males who can't afford the track to become a pilot, and they shouldn't be passed over a grant or scholarship due to their skin color, if it's available to a minority. That's discrimination at its purest, based on ends justifying means, which, as you say, is doable by other means.

 

I think the biggest deterrent to women pursuing commercial aviation is simply not knowing about it. Most female pilots I know, including myself, have a dad who was a pilot and got into it early. The other deterrent is the schedule, which may improve as airlines hopefully try to improve conditions to retain pilots. Having a family and being away is tough but doable. I have to give all the fathers & their families credit with the low pay and unpredictable schedules. It's a lifestyle my traditionally structured family friends balk at and discourage me from pursuing. It's a different kind of life for sure.


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My friend flew the bro at SKW and said it ended up being around $75,000 as a captain after 7 or so years. That's just what he told me so this is definitely not in stone. With a wife and kids in California, that's rough!


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Like I said, I prefer to deal it with where you can fix the problem, ie elementary and secondary education. Wait much after that, you're just propping people up as opposed to helping them.