Bhanu Choudhrie Champions Women in the Cockpit

The huge gender gap in aviation means that passengers are far more likely to see female flight attendants than female pilots. However, many companies are trying to change this by analysing its root causes and developing solutions for them. Bhanu Choudhrie, founder of Alpha Aviation Group (AAG), has several approaches for putting more women in cockpits.

There are a number of social and economic factors that make it more difficult for women to get jobs in aviation, which became worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Air Transport Organisation (ATO) reports that the number of women serving a C-level role in an aviation firm is in the low single digits. There are about 290,000 commercial pilots in the world, but only five per cent of them are women. Historical perceptions about the jobs that people should do have often been based on gender, which is starting to change.

Factors

The socioeconomic factors that contribute to the low prevalence of female pilots include a widespread belief that men are more suited to this role, in addition to the scarcity of female role models in aviation. The irregular schedule of commercial pilots also makes this occupation less desirable for women who want to be the primary care giver for their children. Social customs can also hinder women from committing to the flexible work schedule of pilots. For example, women in the Middle East have traditionally been prohibited from working at night, although Saudi Arabia has recently passed legislation that would allow them to do so. In addition, pilot training has historically been a long, expensive process, which tends to be a greater obstacle for women.

Trends

The percentage of female pilots has been slowly increasing over the past few years, according to Bhanu Choudhrie. About three per cent of pilots in 2015 were women, which increased to five per cent by 2021. A broad shift in attitude is the primary driver of this trend, resulting in a demonstration that aviation can be a rewarding career for women. For example, AAG trained the first female pilot from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to fly for Air Arabia.

Solutions

Pilot training schools are changing the way they attract recruits to make this process more accessible for women. For example, AAG has implemented a Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) programme, which has a greater focus on simulator training. This approach has a lower cost and time requirement, providing greater opportunities for cadets from less privileged backgrounds.

The creation of female role models is also essential for closing the gender gap in aviation. AAG’s training centre in the Philippines recently graduated its first all-female class, and the centre’s classes remain well above that country’s average of 12 per cent female pilots. This practice should be effective in encouraging women to train as pilots.

Providing greater career guidance is also essential for increasing the female pilot population. AAG often visits universities to present the career path for women in aviation, helping to bring down some of the barriers that have historically discouraged women from becoming pilots. Scholarship programmes are another way that businesses can balance the gender gap in aviation, as obtaining a commercial pilot’s license remains a financially risky challenge.

Impact of COVID-19

Commercial aviation was one of the hardest-hit industries during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Many pilots were furloughed or completely terminated as a result of the reduction in staff requirements from cancelled flights, grounded fleets and closed airports. This unprecedented change caused many pilots to question whether they should remain in aviation, causing a setback in the gains women had previously made. AAG has been working closely with regulators to implement new programmes in the post-covid environment. For example, a greater emphasis on e-learning has been essential for meeting social distancing requirements, as air travel begins to open up again.

Future Outlook

A recent industry report predicts that civil aviation will require 264,000 new pilots over the next decade, despite the great impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Making up this shortfall will require increasing the number of female pilots willing to take advantage of the opportunities that are becoming available. Bhanu Choudhrie also believes this goal will require a proactive approach from key players in aviation that provides the flexibility needed to make an aviation career more attractive to women.