Page 28 - InterPilot2019Issue2

PAGE 28

IFALPA

Female Pilots’

Working

Group

th
Female Pilots make history at IFALPA’s 74 Conference in Berlin

The new IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group pleased with the turnout and commented, “We
was represented at the 74th Conference in Ber- are very gratified that the board has supported
lin by Group Lead Captain Nina Moers, HUPER this group and this movement to include more
Chairperson Captain Tanja Harter, and ISA+21 women and activism in the unions themselves,
International Society of Women Airline Pilots and recruit more female pilots to our companies
Representative to IFALPA Captain Tara Traynor to increase those numbers.”
Cook. The presentation addressed the question,
why is a Female Pilot Working Group needed at Addressing the pilot shortage, Captain Harter
the IFALPA level? said, “This industry lacks pilots, in the near and
not so far future, I think to attract more pilots
Focusing on targeting female professionals to into the business we can’t rule out almost half
help the industry overcome global pilot short- of the population. I think we need to start early,
ages, identifying barriers for women in avia- setting the idea in the minds of young women.
tion, making aviation more attractive to women We need qualified pilots and I don’t see why fe-
by promoting fair and respectful workplaces, males can’t be qualified, we’ve proven it. If we
and promoting greater work/life balance were have 50% in the cockpit, if it’s a normal sight for
all topics covered. The IFALPA FPWG will help every passenger to see a female pilot, I think the
change the industry from the inside by gaining whole industry can benefit from that.”
visibility and leading the way in providing global
support to women in aviation. When asked what some of the barriers are for
women entering the piloting profession today,
Captain Moers encouraged participation in the IFALPA Senior Technical Officer and Regional Of-
WG, “We need input from all of the Member As- ficer had this to say, “The piloting profession is
sociations to send their members so we can have not attractive to young women and that’s half
an even better exchange, enjoy more input, and the problem. Young women today don’t seem to
share experiences.” Captain Traynor Cook was realize that the actual aircraft does not know if