WOMEN PILOTS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25595, 9 September 1948, Page 2

WOMEN PILOTS

FEW TRAINED IN N.Z.

Although New Zealand aero clubs have been training pilots for nearly 20 years only a few women have gained their pilot's licences. At present there are not more than 15 with an A licence, which entitles them to fly an aircraft, but not to carry passengers. Among them is the youngest woman pilot in New Zealand, Miss J. Hall, of Blenheim, aged 17, who was trained by the Marlborough Aero Club’s instructor (Mr R. B. Hamilton).

Only one woman in New Zealand holds a B, or commercial pilot’s licence, which entitles her to carry passengers. She is Miss Trevor Hunter, who trained with the Wanganui Aero Club, and during the war served with the Air Transport Auxiliary in Britain ferrying military aircraft from factories to R.A.F. aerodromes. Another former A.T.A. pilot. Miss Judy Howden, who now belongs to the Canterbury Aero Club, has applied for her B licence. Canterbury had the first clubtrained woman pilot in New Zealand, the late Mrs A. Brustad, formerly Miss Aroha Clifford; but at present only two women are learning to fly with the aero clubs. Mrs W. G. Todd, wife of the vice-president (Dr. Todd) is being trained at Ashburton, and Mrs A. Carey, of Snringston. wife of a club member who served in the R.N.Z.A.F., is being trained at Harewood.