IfitsTuesday

Isn't that a blanket statement?

Snarge

The female pilot social dynamic is unique... so much so that (gustimate) 85-90% of female pilots have for husbands.... an airline pilot or military pilot. No one understands female pilots and the lifestyle better than pilots....

The average 40h/week M-F cubical BA/MBA type dude is: intimated by female pilots, thier skill and ability to handle a traditionally male profession.

and

MBA dude can't handle the social diveristy of the lifestyle: a free private hotel room each night and new male co worker. The opportunities are endless. Not saying this is how it really is, in fact its the opposite, but MBA dude doesn't understand that....

While female pilots are better to fly with because they don't bring the insecurites of testosterone, socially, they can't get a date and are forced to stay "in house".

USMCFLYR

New studies on the number of female pilots.
The numbers indicate big increases in ALL aviation related fields.
---------------
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_737565.html

USMCFLYR

rickair7777

The Navy has big problems retaining qualified female officers after the first 5-10 years. They spent years making all manner of efforts to fix this and get retention numbers on par with males, and finally started doing surveys. They found out that most women don't consider a sea-going navy career to be compatible with family plans and lifestyle...duh.

Most women do have a slightly different outlook than men as far as family life goes, probably just biological nature...political correctness aside, there are actual genetic differences between men and women and those exist for the purpose of creating and raising children. I know three female regional CA's (ie eligible for employment at a major next year) who have quit this year due to family concerns. Probably doesn't help when you are married to a pilot, and therefore have to bid opposite schedules for childcare.

Frankly I don't see the "problem" here...as long as women have full access to the career field, from training to left seat of a heavy. I don't think it's anyone's business but the individual's as to whether they choose aviation, or stay in it for the long run.

FlyJSH

They found out that most women don't consider a sea-going navy career to be compatible with family plans and lifestyle...duh.

Not unlike a large number of pilots (male and female) who whine about spending too much time away from home.

rickair7777

Unlike aviation, it actually makes sense to join the military with uncertain long-term intentions, or the intention of getting out after a few years. Job training, education benefits (either up-front scholarships or GI-Bill after the fact) and valuable job experience provide plenty of incentive for young folks.

Aviation is different...being self-funded it makes no sense whatsoever to go down that road unless you plan on doing it for a career.

robthree

Lost, its statistics.
If X percent of a part made by P&W fails and Y percent of the same part made by GE fails, and X is statically different from Y, then you'll say there's a manufacturing difference.

Of course any individual has the opportunity to become a pilot, but when there is a statistical difference between groups, its not due to individual variation anymore but a systematic difference in the experiences of a group's members.

The whole picture is probably incredibly complex, but I'm sure that no one would be surprised to find women still face discrimination in aviation. Occasionally overt chauvinism, and probably widespread unconscious paternalism. If female naval aviators have a lower retention rate because a sea going career is not attractive, is that because women are built fundamentally differently from men, or because of some outside force that acts differently on men and women? If female regional captains quit to have kids, is because they don't like flying anymore, or because quitting is the best choice available to them at the time? If aviation schools are dominated by male students is that because only males are interested in becoming pilots, or because male dominated schools are unappealing to female students?

Women aren't smarter than men. Blacks aren't stronger than whites. Hindus aren't better than Buddhists. Buckeyes aren't more attractive than Wolverines.

Anywhere you find a statistical difference between sexes, races or religions, then my money is on their being an outside force causing the difference.

rickair7777

When it comes to careers with lifestyles involving a lot of time-away from home I think biology plays a factor too. Women tend to be more nurturing, I suspect it's harder for them to spend the time away than for many males.

Also societal expectations probably play a role too, although that may have underlying genetic roots too.

It is reasonably established scientific fact that no gender or known race of humans is smarter or dumber than any other. But it is certainly obvious that women have some different biology and emotional response systems due to their evolutionary role in hunter/gather societies. It's silly to try to pretend that doesn't exist. Modern society can and has changed these roles around, but that doesn't make the underlying evolutionary adaptions go away.

I think there is very little remaining gender discrimination in 121, the last bastions are a few crotchety old captains here and there...and they can't get get away with overt behavior anymore. Certainly not enough to cause a lack on interest at the entry level.

LostInPA

Agreed 100%, Rick.

robthree, you make some very good points as well.

All that being said, I'll still be the cynical one. I really don't care what reasons are causing this difference. I just want another competent pilot in the other seat, regardless of sex. If someone believes that flying is a career in line with their goals and lifestyle, then good for them.

LadyDriver

Interesting points here. Some surely more comical than others In response to the original article posted, IMHO, I think there are 2 big contributing factors.

1) I don't think flying has typically been marketed towards women. I would have never thought about it, had I not had a parent who flew for over 40 years (military/airlines).

2) One generally chooses a profession or stays in a profession that is conducive to the lifestyle they want to lead. If a woman's goal in life is to raise kids and family and all that, then they probably are not going to choose a career where they are never at home. Although, it can be done.

As far as women being terrible pilots, I have to laugh. Your gender doesn't make you a good/bad pilot. I've flown with pilots from all spectrums good and bad, male and female. And I would never base ones' skills on their gender.