Airline rejects women's bid

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 6

Airline rejects women's bid

PA Wellington' N.A.C. has rejected the first two women to apply to it to become trainee pilots. However, the airline’s general manager (Mr D. A. Patterson) maintains that the sex of the applicants did not influence the decision. The two women were among 160 applicants for the 10 positions available with the airline. They survived the first selection round, and were included in a second interview list of 80. To qualify the applicants nad to have a commercial firing licence with an instrument rating, and be under 28. The applicants also had to be tested for their “general psychological fit-

•ness” for flying N.A.C. passengers and for their aptitude for instrument flying. ‘ Mr Patterson said one of the applicants was already an N.A.C. employee, and she. had been told (hat she could re-apply. “The applicant has told me ! that she now wishes to settle i back into her routine duties : with N.A.C.,” he said. “I appreciate her feelings , and am grateful that she has acknowledged that our selec-! tion process is finalised with-• out discrimination.” Many journalists had; sought personal interviews 1 with this applicant, he said. “Quite correctly, in my op-j inion, she declined the interviews.”