Are you glad that the vast majority of airline pilots are male?

Question

I've been travelling on airplanes since I was a baby, and in all my time of air travel, as far as I can remember, I have never ever seen a female pilot or co-pilot. So I'm assuming that the percentage of women pilots in the airline industry is either extremely small or perhaps non-existant.

Seriously, would you be scared if you were on a jumbo jet and you knew the pilot were a female? I think I would be. Imagine if both the pilot and co-pilot were female? Scary thought.

Give your opinion on the issue.

By the way, I flew Cessna prop planes over Arizona, California, and Nevada at the age of 16 and have a pilot's license.

Randomx: You're wrong. Women are not better drivers than men. The reason why men's car insurance rates are higher, is because men are more likely to have DUI's, and teenage boys and young men are more likely to drive at high speeds to impress their friends. But what does that have to do with ones inherent ability to operate a car? Do you have any sort of study that shows the difference between a non-drinking, non-speed-demon teenager male driver, and a non-drinking, non-speed-demon female driver? In other words, a study involving a competant male and female driving a car? If not, your statement is void. Also, studies show men have better spatial-awareness, which is pertinent to driving a car.

But most importantly, what does this have to do with flying planes? There's a huge difference between flying a plane and driving a car. If women were so much better at it, we'd have more female pilots than men.

Random: You're still in denial. You say "across the board" but DUI's are the cause. Men are more likely to drink alcohol, and are thus therefore more likely to get DUI's. Do you not understand that this doesn't relate to one's inherent ability to drive? A drinker that isn't under the influence of alcohol may be a GREAT driver. Women drivers are HORRIFIC on the road and are timid, slow, and irrational. The way they park is horrible. These are things that really aren't measured in studies -- and the results would surely upset alot of you female supremacists.

Why are most proffessional drivers men? Why are the best race car drivers men? Why can't you refute that men have better spacial-awareness, which helps in things like map-reading, navigation, and driving/operating cars?

Do you have any study showing that women are less wreckless as airline pilots, since you claim it relates? Otherwise, I'll count that as another one of your sexist lies.

LOL! I struck a nerve with sephoramoon. I guess the truth hurts and she can't refute it, other than lash out at me with misandry. She proves my point about sexist, misandrist, irrational women.

For Random: Let me just highlight what one member here stated -- "AA insurance admitted that women actually have more accidents than men, but as I said, men's claims cost more money."

It's true -- another reason men's insurance costs more is because men get in costlier accidents due to men usually driving at higher speeds. But women actually get in more accidents -- the accidents tend to be more minor and less costlier, but still they get in more accidents than men.

Answer 1

The main thing that would be of concern to me, is that female pilots get less real time in the air than men... That isn't because they "learn quicker" or such (and certainly, not a single study exists to suggest that), but rather they are fast tracked and then allowed to work - part time LoL.
Given the extreme nature of an aeroplane's operations, I would want to know that I was with the most experienced pilot available.. not someone who was constantly taking time off and missing more & more experience.
The main reason men have higher insurance on vehicles is because their crashes tend to cost more money...due to having high-end cars, and even the head of the AA insurance admitted that women actually have more accidents than men, but as I said, men's claims cost more money.

I see some feminists can't resist the 'you have a small penis' and 'you are scared of a strong, independant woman' insults, but don't take them to heart (though i'm sure you won't - you're a strong, indepentant man and i'm sure quite capable of laughing off her pathetic attempts to shame you into being a female supremacist).

I have no innate fear of flying with a female pilot (I've been flying for a few years too, though not as many as yourself) - but I would want to be safe in the knowledge that she isn't a part time pilot.

If you think about it, her desire to work only part time is potentially putting the lives of maybe hundreds of people on the line so she can fulfill her needs above their safety... not very reasonable if you ask me.

Now, as long as she's a full time pilot - I'll be set.
To reiterate, my issue would not be her sex, but rather the amount of experience she has under her belt. So far, it is primarly female pilots who are choosing to do part time hours vs primarily men choosing to do full time hours.


(the original link to the guardian online no longer exists, unfortunately)

Answer 2

I use to fly twice a week 2 - 3 weeks a month for a few years and had a few female co-pilots and a pilot. Didn't notice a thing was different from male pilots.

Answer 3

Yeah I have been on a plane with a female pilot take off was fine so was the flight and she landed it perfectly. Only problem was she couldn't park the damn thing, cheers.

Answer 4

i work around the house for a pilot and a flight attendant couple. the wife is the pilot.

i wouldn't be scared because anyone who has passed the pilots course and managed to work for a major airline is plenty competent to handle the job.

Answer 5

Interesting question, one I'd never even thought about until now, though I too have flown many times.
Honestly, I'm going to say yes...I do feel more secure with a male pilot...absolutley.
Also...thanks for posting the reason that insurance companies give lower rates to women "auto drivers"....it's NOT b/c of women's overall driving skills...as many are downright scary...it is b/c of the DUI and teen male factors.
I'm sure this answer will get its share of thumbs down here, as it will appear that I'm being sexist...but, yeah...give me a male pilot any day...and I'd prefer if he was given a Breathalyzer test prior to boarding the aircraft. ;)

Answer 6

I'm glad the vast majority of airline pilots are good pilots. Sex has nothing to do with it. I've flown with many male and many female pilots in Fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft and in all honesty, the best pilot I ever flew with was female.

Answer 7

How would that be a scary thought? Men can be just as bad. I really don't care though, if he can fly the plane to my destination safely, why the heck does it matter?

Answer 8

Hell yeah I sure am. There are female pilots, 1 in hundred, maybe even less.

Random again with women are better drivers because they pay less insurance. Are women better drinkers because there is ladies night ? Dont be so silly. If women are better drivers how come There have been no women winning driving competitions ?

Answer 9

Why's it scary? Women are better drivers than men, which is why we often have much lower car insurance rates. Studies have also shown that men, particularly young men, are more likely to engage in risky behavior. For instance, the majority of snakebite victims are male and the majority of snakebites are on their hands. That's just stupidity, plain and simple. So, really, the fact that pilots are mostly men should scare you, as it means the more level-headed sex with the better driving skills is not, in fact, in the cockpit.

ETA: That's hilarious. I'm going to have to use that argument someday. "Men are great car drivers, other than all the drunk driving and the reckless speeding!" Ha! My first argument does tie in with my second, though, and you haven't addressed that at all. Women are, on average, less reckless than men. Oh, and that insurance statistic isn't just between teenaged boys and middle-aged women. Across the board, in every age group, women tend to have lower rates than men.

Answer 10

No, I would not be scared. However, I would be scared if they put the plane on autopilot to light their shoes on fire. That's all you have to be afraid of, really.