114 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION
A
viation’s representation
in mainstream media and
education, or lack thereof, is
inhibiting females from realising
that becoming a pilot is within their
capabilities. One cannot simply catch
the “flying bug” if your environment
never delivers the inducive conditions.
I am a young student pilot who
has recently commenced commercial
pilot licence training from an ab-initio
level. I also hold a Bachelor of Aviation
from Griffith University and am one
of the executive leaders underpinning
the MATES student development
program. Unlike many of my peers, I
have come from a completely non-
aviation family.
I fell in love with the concept of
flying on my first flight to Sydney
when I was five years old. However,
it was not until a decade later that
it became apparent that becoming
a pilot was actually possible. The
lightbulb did not go on until I went
on a flight with a female captain. It
was not that I thought females were
incapable of being pilots, but it was
that I never even knew it was within
my means.
The much-discussed and debated
lack of females in aviation does notstem from women believing that they
are incapable of being a pilot. It stems
from failing to realise it as a viable
option. I grew up believing that the
profession of being a pilot was one
that was particularly difficult to get
into, which required the highest levels
of academic prowess and a substantial
monetary footing to support the
endeavour.
Realistically, direct exposure to
aviation for students of any gender
from non-aviation families is more
or less restricted to the occasional
exotic holiday, or what they see on
TV or in movies. A pilot personality
sporadically appears in television,
predominately as an authority male
figure of privilege. There is rarely
anything in mainstream media that
brings the concept of being a pilot
back down to earth, that makes the
role appear relatable and paints it as
achievable. Children need exposure
that highlights the joy of flying. It is,
after all, that feeling that caused all of
us to catch the bug in the first place.
Becoming a pilot needs to be
seen as a realistic consideration for
a young student. That starts with
receiving early-enough exposure
in the education system to begin to
identify a career in aviation as one
worth considering. Early enough for
the student to catch the bug. Wait for
a fluke external factor to introduce the
idea and it may well be too late.
The career itself has excellent
benefits and benefits are important to
this generation. Many high-achieving
students have exacting expectations
when it comes to their prerequisites
in an occupation, and many of these
marry up nicely with the profession of
being a pilot.
Generally, pilots are well paid,
with many career paths including the
opportunity to travel the world. They
work in a challenging environment
completing dynamic tasks. Pilots
can also progress onto a wide variety
of aircraft types with opportunities
diverse enough to fit anyone. Aside
from a fear of flying, there is little to
stop a driven student considering an
aviation career as an option once they
know about it. It is aviation awareness
and industry-specific education that
are the limiting factors.
In my experience, aviationawareness was even lower in a
female-only school environment. I
have had this discussion with many
of my colleagues at university. Those
who have come from a similar girls’
school background are in agreement.
They reached their decision to become
a pilot outside the support and career
guidance their school provided.
In recent years, girls’ schools are
making an active effort to promote
STEM to their students. I was taught
about the degree options pertaining to
the niche, yet growing, STEM market,
the pay scales you could achieve and
the career progressions. We had
these lectures every year. They were
broad conversations and a variety of
options from multiple universities
were encouraged. However, in my
experience becoming a pilot was just
not raised.
Aviation is rarely presented as an
attractive, realistic and achievable
career option in neither mainstream
media nor a student’s education. This
is undoubtedly the largest barrier
inhibiting females from believing that
they can strive for and become an
airline pilot.
In light of the ever-present pilot
shortage, I am thrilled to say that
media is finally beginning to back
a shift in public perception. One
that engages youth to consider and
enter the aviation industry. The
pilot crisis is now widely advertised.
New schemes and opportunities
are available, including esteemed
airline level cadetships and defence
force opportunities being promoted
as financially and educationally
attractive. But more work must be
done in mainstream media to remove
the notion that being a pilot is an
exclusive career option.
There must be exposure at a grass
roots level in a student’s education if
the bug is ever going to latch on. If the
pilot shortage really is as bad as it is
proclaimed, then the entire aviation
industry across the globe needs to see
this shift.
If we believe being a pilot is the
best job in the world, then why doesn’t
the whole world know it?
Are you a young aviation
professional with a story to tell? Email
us your 800-word story pitch to
‘[email protected]’.‘Children
need
exposure that
highlights the
joy of flying.’
Author Kate Richards (right)
with fellow Griffith University
aviation students Abby Toten
and Monica Gradwell.NICK MULLERWhat flying bug?
Aviation is rarely presented as an attractive and achievable career option
CLEARED TAKEOFF
KATE RICHARDS