women flying high

WOMEN FLYING HIGH
The last time you boarded a plane did u hear a women voice telling you to sit back and enjoy the flight. More and more woman are making the leap from the cabin to corporate. They are flying, they are flying as captains and they are flying with all women crew. The flight from Prem Mathur the first Indian women to become the commercial pilot more than 50 years ago to the youngest commercial pilot (18 year old Japji Kaur Cheema) has been a long one but women are finally chasing their lofty dreams.
Driving this increase in number of women pilots is a growing aviation market. Little wonder that Chandigarh girl 18 years old Japji, had more than 3 offers before she opted for Spice Jet. It is also becoming an exciting and lubricating career choice for youngsters looking to spread their wings.
Its a far cry from the days when Indira Mitra started flying in the eighties. “Those days they use to be just a handful of women pilots and i often fly with all women crews” says Air Deccan Mitra, who is one of the rare women to have made it to the rank of Captain, handling both her managerial and operational task with ease.
So does she informed passengers when they are flying with all women crew? “Always but only after we have landed” she says, with a smile. She even recalls an incident two years ago while landing an Airbus 320 at Chennai Airport “My crew comprised only women, the Air traffic controller who gave us permission to land was a women and a flight that took off just after we landed had a women pilot. When we brought this to the notice of the passengers through the PA, all of the passengers stood up and applauded us”.
Caption Mamta, who runs Fly Tech Aviation in Hyderabad, says the intake of women trainees has increased by 10-12% in the last two years. Recalling her own days as a student, she says,” from 1 or 2 women in a batch of 100 students, its now around 10 or 12.” The ratio could improve further, she feels. However there are still hurdles that women have to face.” The training is expensive and there are still parents who don’t want to fork out that much money for a daughter”. Says mamta.
Indian has 76 women pilots, and the number is rising with every new batch. 40 of Air Deccans 496 pilots are women, Kingfisher who 26 women pilots out of 390, got its first women caption recently. “flying has now become a much sought-after career for women. With each new batch, we are adding more and more women pilots.” Says Rubi Arya vice president of Kingfisher Airlines.
“ Choppers have attracted few women as compared to fixed wing aircrafts because they are riskier and the pay isn’t that lucrative.” Explain D A Yadav, public relation manager of Pawan Hans. But the wind of change is flowing here as well. After a gap of many years, the company is now getting ready to welcome women pilot for those who are keen to travel beyond the stars, plant earth offers more than enough career opportunities.