Page 58 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

CoLuMn GhaDa MohaMeD aL Rousi

Lessen the Gender Gap

Why women now hold the key to the aviation sector

becoming the preferred training method for
many global airlines.
Again, I was grateful for and encouraged
by the support of the academy that I learnt to
fly with. Alpha Aviation UAE, based in Sharjah,
is aware of both the growing shortage of
pilots and lack of female pilots. As a result,
some of the Alpha Aviation Group courses
have been up to 20 percent female intake.
The first three months were grueling, and
the instructors were firm. They will identify
your weak points as a cadet and specifically
improve you in those areas. I graduated as
the first emirati holder of the MPL, and I hope
I can serve as an example and inspiration to
many other budding aviatrixes.
theRe has neVeR Been a BetteR tiMe gender, it is about hard work, ability and The barriers that might once have
to build a career in the aviation industry. desire. In my case, I knew being a pilot was prevented women from flying a plane are
Airlines are growing, with more planes, more right for me. I told myself I was able enough disappearing and, most importantly, the
flights, more routes and more passengers to do the job and now, as a first officer for Air aviation sector now needs female pilots. Pilot
than ever before. Nowhere is this truer Arabia, I’ve never looked back. supply is falling short of demand and will
than in the Middle East and Asia, where the I have been lucky in that, in the UAE, the continue to do so unless a solution is found.
growth of the middle-class is generating country is supportive of women like me Of course, some women will never start pilot
considerable industry growth. But if this who are looking to break down barriers training: they might not be able to afford the
progress is to be maintained, the sector and balance family life with a career. The course and sadly, some families might still
must address the one area where growth is importance of this encouragement for young not accept that it is a job for women. But
stalling: pilot numbers. women looking to become pilots cannot be governments and airlines now have a duty
Currently, there are approximately emphasised enough – whether it be from to educate people on the possibilities of
130,000 commercial pilots flying worldwide. family, government or wider society. women becoming commercial airline pilots,
Boeing has estimated that by 2034, 558,000 Overall, mindsets are starting to shift. and women have a duty to pursue their
more commercial pilots will be needed Many people are surprised that, coming from dreams. If you want this job enough, then you
to meet the growth of the industry. Yet a conservative background in the Middle East, simply have to go for it. Don’t listen to anyone
currently just 3 percent of commercial pilots I have been able to fulfil my career aspirations who tells you that you can’t.
are female. If the demand for more pilots is in the aviation sector. But more and more This is a crossroads for the aviation
to be met, this statistic has to change. young women are realising that it is possible; sector. We can either be pro-active in bringing
The reasons for a lack of female pilots recently a Royal Brunei Airlines plane piloted a whole new demographic into the cockpit
are varied. In some markets, certain by an all-female crew landed in Saudi Arabia, to solve the impending pilot shortage crisis,
cultural and attitudinal barriers still exist, a landmark moment in the history of aviation. or we can watch some of the most talented
with piloting still very much seen as a That’s not to say that becoming a women of our generation move into other
‘male’ profession. Similarly there exists a pilot is easy. I undertook the Multi-Crew fields. I am proud to serve my country in
misconception that all pilots are forced Pilots Licence (MPL), which develops the this job every day and my country shows its
onto long-haul trans-continental flights, abilities needed to fly in a multi-crew airline pride by supporting me. It is time for more
pulling you away from home for weeks on environment and takes more advantage countries and more women to follow suit.
end – and therefore making it impractical to of flight simulators than a traditional
both fly and raise a family. Commercial Pilot Licence. The MPL (Ghada Mohamed Al Rousi is Air Arabia first
But piloting a plane shouldn’t be about seemed the right choice as it is increasingly officer and Alpha Aviation Group graduate)
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