Only 7% of pilots are women. Industry bodies are trying to fix that

When Chani Leitch​ told her high school careers advisor she wanted to be a pilot, she was told hairdressing might be a more appropriate profession.

Over two decades later the Christchurch businesswoman and mother is pursuing her aviation dream.

Gender stereotypes play a role in career pathways, which experts say is one of the reasons the proportion of women in the aviation industry is still very low.

According to the New Zealand 2018 Census, there were 174 female pilots in New Zealand, just 7% of the total.

READ MORE:
* Girls take to the skies in Defence Force programme
* Girls set to fly high at Air Force’s School to Skies immersion camp
* No charges laid yet for alleged bomb threat incident at Whenuapai Airbase

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), major industry players and prominent air shows are trying to change that with a range of programmes aimed at women.

After selling her business two years ago, Leitch, 39, decided to train for her private pilot’s licence and now she has her sights on a commercial licence to become an instructor.

She says it has been rewarding, but challenging.

“It’s been the most amazing experience so far… being a mum is my first priority, but my kids have been along in the journey with me.”

Leitch says her Rangiora-based flight school Tie-Upp Aviation​ had its own women in aviation programme, and she also found a lot of support from a community of female aviators online.

A major focus of biennial air show Wings Over Wairarapa is its STEM offering to students to help to guide them into science careers, with an emphasis on aviation.

One of the key contributors to this year’s show, which has been postponed until later in the year, would be an introduction to the Air Force’s School to Skies programme​, which gave young women a chance to experience aviation in a hands-on environment.

RNZAF squadron leader Lisa Eavestaff​ says the programme was created in 2017 after the Air Force recognised that it needed more diversity within its ranks.

Currently, 8% of its pilots are women, and 16% of those in aircrew trades are female.

“It’s not just an Air Force issue, it’s a whole societal issue. Women in aviation are really underrepresented, and not just in the pilot side, but also in the engineering side.”

Eavestaff says there is still a lot of gender stereotyping in everyday life, which continues to have an impact on young people’s choices.

“Right down to toys that get marketed towards girls and boys at the age of five.

“It’s really good that we’re starting to see a shift … very slowly we will get there, but culture change is never fast.”

The annual School to Skies camp was for Year 13 students, bringing together a cohort of 40 young women onto its Ohakea base in central North Island, to “show them what life in the Air Force could be like. What life in a STEM role really looks like, to try and persuade them, not even necessarily to come to Air Force, but to get into these STEM roles,” Eavestaff says.

The RNZAF achieved its initial goal of 20% female representation by 2020, and Eavestaff says its next target is 25% by 2025.

Aviation New Zealand chief executive John Nicholson​ says the industry needs more qualified pilots and engineers and air shows are a good way to promote the profession.

He says between 11 and 15% of trainees are women, but there were efforts through training organisations to attract more with scholarships and education programmes.

New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation president Margaret Wright​ says society is still not encouraging young women into the industry.

“The public perception of what a pilot might look like is certainly not looking like a female,” she says.

Wright has been flying for 40 years, and it was her father, who was a WWII pilot, who introduced her to aviation and became her mentor.

She says her organisation and others are particularly focused on exposing young women to career options in the industry by talking to groups at schools and supporting individuals.

Air New Zealand is the most significant career pathway for commercial pilots in this country and women make up 9% of its pilots.

Air NZ chief people officer Nikki Dines​ says this compares favourably to the international rate of 5% .

About 18% of Air NZ’s engineering team are women and 8% of its maintenance crew.

“The lack of women is a challenge for the aviation industry across the globe, and we know that as an industry and organisation there is more we can do to attract and retain female talent in our business,” Dines says.

“Gender diversity isn’t just the right thing to do, but it also brings valuable perspectives and skills that help us to better serve our customers and communities.”

Dines says it is working to increase female representation with a range of initiatives that support and promote women in aviation.