The Landing: Women Aviators on the Rise
The passion to fly is not gender specific. And while the percentages of certified and airline transport-rated women pilots remain low—6.6 and 4.2 percent, respectively, at the end of 2015, according to the FAA—the trend is moving upward. And soon, the ranks of the approximately 7,000 female pilots who have ATPs will surely reach new heights.
Of today’s student pilots, nearly 12 percent are women. And while there was a 1 percent decrease in the overall pilot population, the number of female pilots has increased by more than 10 percent.
In recognition of March being Women in Aviation month, Air Line Pilot is highlighting a few female members of ALPA’s collegiate ACE Clubs who may be flying the line in the near future.
Jade Lubinski (above), from St. Louis, Miss., is a sophomore majoring in aeronautical science at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Fla., campus. Speaking about what drew her to aviation, she said, “Since fifth grade, I wanted to become an astronaut. When I entered high school, I decided to dive a bit deeper into the different ways I could fulfill my dream and came across flying. I worked on my private pilot’s certificate my senior year of high school and discovered that my true passion is being in the air. Since then, I’ve continued to pursue flying as a career.”
Lubinski credits ALPA’s ACE Club and pilot volunteers from ALPA’s Education Committee who support it with helping her make informed decisions about her future: “As a student, I’m still exploring different career opportunities but am leaning toward becoming an airline pilot. Coming from a family with no aviation background, I didn’t have any knowledge of the industry when I started college. ALPA’s ACE Club has allowed me to gain an understanding of what it means to be an airline pilot.
“In addition, ALPA members have offered me advice about my career and opportunities to further network within the industry,” Lubinski said. “ALPA’s ACE Club has allowed me to connect with pilots from all different levels of their aviation careers, such as flight instructors, regional pilots, and major airline pilots.”
Lauren Doherty (above), from Mill Creek, Wash., is a junior in the professional pilot program at Central Washington University. Coming from a family of aviators, she acknowledges their influence on her: “My grandfather was a pilot in the war, later a test pilot, and ended his flying career as a captain at Pan American. My aunt is a first officer, and my uncle is a captain—they both currently fly for Alaska Airlines. I would love to follow in their footsteps and become a pilot with Alaska.” Doherty noted that she had “originally wanted to become a flight attendant. But when I was 10 years old, my aunt said that if I wanted to work in the airline industry, I should be in the cockpit. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be a pilot.”
Regarding ALPA’s ACE Club, Doherty said, “It’s fantastic. Just this year alone, the club has brought in so many great airlines to speak to us and offers great opportunities.”
Meet Jade and Lauren at the annual International Women in Aviation Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on March 2–4. ALPA will be attending the conference, so stop by Booth 423.
Read more about the future of women in aviation at ALPA’s Leadership From the Cockpit blog.
Inspire the Next Generation
Interested in inspiring the next generation of airline pilots? Contact ALPA’s Education Committee at Education@alpa.org to learn how you can get involved.
