Why are there no female commercial or large capacity airplane pilots?

Question

I am not anywhere near being an expert- I have only flown once, in fact.

But it SEEMS as if there are few (if any at all) female pilots of large aircraft. Why would this be?

Answer 1

you are mistaken

Answer 2

because  big planes are dangerous and women are not stupid

Answer 3

Thanks, Grump!  I'll throw in a few words...

There are quite a few of us, actually.  I recently concluded a 37 year career that covered everything from herding cargo in ancient 4-prop cargo airplanes to presiding over the command chair in a Boeing 747-400 on the HongKong routes.

When I started in the very late 1960s, there were only a handful of us.  Nowadays there are quite a few of us, and it isn't clear to me why a person who has "only flown once" is so sure we don't exist.  What are you so nervous about, son?

And, so far, our safety and performance record is the same as the guys.  Why would a difference in the thing you're sitting on make a difference in your ability to make decisions and apply reason and skill to technical situations?  That was a mystery in 1969, and it still is.

So yes, we are there.  Look behind you--one of us might be gaining on you.

Answer 4

Listen to the aviation frequencies in the US; you'll hear plenty of girl pilots.

Answer 5

I have flown numerous times and I can tell you that there are quite a few women pilots.  Basing you question on having flown once seems to be very short sighted.

Answer 6

Women can barly drive cars... u think they should be allowed to fly plaines.... no I'm kidding my grandma was a pilot and she taught me...

Answer 7

My friend, many times I have ground handled Atlas Air cargo B747 combi,400 and 200, in UAE and they have 2-3 women pilots and 2 co-pilots or FO's. Serviced Evergreen in Kuwait and they have women co-pilots as well.

Answer 8

I fly, I personally know many women who are in the aviation industry as ATP"s  (Airline Transport Pilots) I admit that the field is mostly male dominated. But many fields are that way as well, not just aviation. Not to be sexist, but lets face reality, women generally tend to migrate from the work world to the world of the home during the child bearing years. ( As with many other factors))))     In short, there are many women pilots and they are very competent will their skills   ....   :)

Answer 9

I'll let Aviophage answer that one.

Answer 10

Probably because there arent as many women interested in it as a career. Qantas has a great mix. I read in a Qantas book that they currently have (or had) the youngest female 747-400 captain.

Answer 11

There are . . . . Lots of them.  Being male or female makes NO difference in ability, by the way.  IMHO, female pilots are probably a little bit safer and less likely to take unnecessary risks.  This is a good thing.