Can women become airline pilots?

Question

I'm a sophomore in high school, and I love aviation. However, my parents argue that they will pick men over women in ALL the major airlines. I looked online and they said that only 6% of all pilots were women! That reallly worries me. But I don't want to consider another occupation.

And to top it off, i don't have 20/20 vision. Is perfect vision a must?

If you're a female airline pilot... I hear the pay is not desirable the first couple of years, but after 10 years or so it gets better. What's the salary like in the beginning? What are the qualifications for a major airline, like American Airlines or Delta Airlines, etc?

Thank you! I want this more than the world.

Answer 1

if you want to be an airline pilot, by all means go for it. there are a number of schools that train plots through the ATP rating, and you dont need 20/20 vision to be a pilot, but you need to be able to have your vision correctable to near that level, glasses or contact lenses are fine.

Answer 2

Quota quota quota!!!!   Take advantage of the fact you are a woman!!!  Anyone that tells you that you can't be a pilot because you are a woman is an idiot!!   I'm a guy saying this, when I was flight instructing, it was ALWAYS a pleasure to teach women.  This because they always had a smoother hand at the controls, and didn't try to overpower the aircraft like us Ham handed cave men!!  Good luck, the industry sucks, but don't let someone discourage you from anything because you're a woman.....Take THAT to heart..

Answer 3

no women arent smart enough

duh of course you can do anything you want, those are just statistics dont listen to ur parents on that one I want to be a pilot also its just to d**n expensive for me right now

Answer 4

Your parents are wrong in this case.  It's not the 1950s anymore.  Women have just as good a chance, if not better, than men do when landing a job.

The reason why only 6% (or whatever the true statistic is) of all pilots are women is because more men do it.  It has nothing to do with airlines not wanting to hire women or anything like that.

Your vision only has to be correctable to 20/20.  Lots of pilots wear glasses.

There is no difference in pay between male and female pilots.  If the airlines tried to pay women pilots less, the unions would put a stop to it in an instant.  However, the pay still really sucks in the beginning.  It takes many years to get to a point where you'll feel like you can pay your bills.  As a pilot, you'll be poor for a very long time.

As for qualifications for the major airlines you listed...well, hardly any majors are hiring at all.  American won't be hiring for many years to come as they still have tons of pilots furloughed from 9/11.  School grades, number of hours flown, types of planes flown, years in the business... none of that matters as long as you meet their minimum hiring requirements.  Generally the only qualification that matters is that you know someone on the inside who can help you get in.

Answer 5

Hey,

     I'm a sophmore too and I've been flying since 7th grade. I honestly don't believe that they pick men over women. Actually, I think women make better pilots. You have to remember, women pilots weren't common until later in aviation history so there still aren't as many women pilots yet. And no, you don't have to have 20/20. Since you don't have 20/20 you will have to wear glasses or contacts that correct it. The FAR states that you must have 20/20 with or without corrective lenses.

Answer 6

Of course they can WHY not i don't get iv seen lots of wemon flying when i pass by the cockpit in the plane i see them don't listen to b******s that say oh your not smart enough or its a manly job don't listen to them do what you wanna do and youll do it ok ;) take care

i hope you become one.

Best of Luck

Answer 7

Yes women can be airline pilots. No, you do not need perfect vision as long as it's corrected with glasses. Regarding pay, being a woman you'll get paid the same as men because most airlines are unionized and the pay is set forth in the union's collective bargaining agreement.

The pay is pretty bad for the first couple years compared to the investment it takes to get in. You can look at some airline pay tables at www.pilotjobs.com

Answer 8

there isnt alot of women pilots because they think like you "its a guys jost" it dosent matter your s*x or race you can be a pilot believe it or not its not that hard of a ccareer to accomplish getting into ivy league colleges is harder i think anyway women pilots i wish there was more of them i am a guy and i love to fly but love women that love to fly even more cuz we could releate and really have  a good time  as for the vision jsut get glasses you are aloud. after 10 years the pay will get better. in the begging look at making 18k to 33k a year  as for the major airlines thousands of hours of jet time if you have 1000 hours of jettime pilot on command you could make it easily i think so you have to start with a regional airlin ebut dont forget you get you CFI / CFII / CFME you should become a CFI first major airlines love this alot most of the pilots there were flight instrictors it shows them that you can fly on the right and learn and teach so you can be a leader (CAPT one day )) hope this helps

happy landings

Answer 9

Several other good answers above.  I will only chime in to say, "Yes, we can."

Make good grades, get a 4-year college degree, and get all your flight ratings and the experience into which you will be guided.  If your eyesight can be corrected to 20/20 and you have no serious astigmatism, you can pass the medical.

Of course women can be professional pilots.  Go for it!

Answer 10

Of course you can... I'm not a pilot but have worked in the aviation industry for years, as well as my mother has too.

Here is a great organization that offers metoring, etc.. for women in aviation http://www.ninety-nines.org/

As far as your eyesite as long as it is correctable to 20/20 you will be fine for your medical.

Hope this helps and don't hesitate to email me if you have any additional questions...

Good Luck!

Answer 11

Of course you can. If there is a small airport near your home check with them about flight training. Most smaller airports offer beginner courses and can then point you in the right direction. There is a 12 year old girl about 8 miles from my house that is taking the classes at our local airport. Good luck.

Answer 12

Mikki If you want to be a pilot, Don't let anyone stand in your way. I've seen a load of Female pilots and don't listen too your parents....(just on this topic!) No, you don't have to have perfect vision, just 20/20 corrected or uncorrected. 'If you're a female airline pilot... I hear the pay is not desirable the first couple of years, but after 10 years or so it gets better'....Its not horrible and no, they wont pay a man less than a woman.

http://www.willflyforfood.cc/airlinepilo...

Now to work for Delta or American, they don't take new fishes. They wont experienced pilots with 1200+ Hours a ATP written (Not all but some) and some want a college degree. (More the better)

So you need to go and get your Private Pilots certificate, (you can obtain it when your 17) Then your Instrument rating and Then your commercial pilots Certificate. Build About 600 hours and apply with a regional airline such as comair, Asa, etc....This way you can build hours to work with the Major Airlines. (And it will be best to get your ATP Written Which is like 100$)

Heres what you need to apply with Delta

http://www.deltajobs.net/pilot_qualifica...

That's about the same with every airline

Becoming a pilot isn't cheap, its around 55kish(last time i checked), but the long hours, and working on holidays is worth it.

best of luck to you

Answer 13

Women can fly just like men can fly. There is no reason why you should not pursuit your dream.

Answer 14

The reason why there are so few women airline pilots is that so many women were brought up to believe that they're not supposed to be doing such things.

If you want it bad enough, go for it and don't listen to the naysayers.

Answer 15

Your parents are a bit out of date.  There used to be a lot of discrimination; there isn't now.  There are many female airline pilots, although there are still more men in the job.

You need good vision, whether naturally or with glasses/contacts.

You won't get rich as a commercial pilot, although the top spots at the major airlines pay well.

Answer 16

You can have worse than 20/20 as long as it is correctable to 20/20 with contacts or glasses.

They pay sucks and doesnt get very good for a long time.

Get a 4 year degree. Get your certificates and ratings.

Regarding being a woman, I almost guarantee you will get hired before a white male with the same qualifications all else being equal. Your parents are just plain wrong about that one.

There just aren't as many women pursuing the career, that is why you don't see as many women pilots, it is not because they aren't chosen. The opposite is true.