Female pilot trainee still to be found

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 22

Female pilot trainee still to be found

PA Wellington British Airways is training its first woman pilot, but Air New Zealand recruiunent officers are still “So far we have not bad a woman applicant who needed for pilot training.’’ Zealand, Mr C Saxton This month British Airwhen Lvnn Barton, aged 24 signed on She is the accepted by British Airways for pilot training, applications from females none has so far met the gets taem tn. The company is by no means opp, -ed to the etrp’oyment of female pilots, thev do He said that in the past Air New Zealand had been swamped with applications for pilot training. "In these circumstances

females are competing equally with male applicants for positions.” said Mr Saxton. Air New Zealand pays its pilots well A junior officer aboard a twiner.zmed Friendship can expect to earn more than $14,000 in his first year. A DC 10 captain earns more than $40,000 in his first year. Mr Saxton said female pilots had less opportunity for initial pilot training in New Zealand than in other countries. Air New Zeala- had recruited a significant number of trainees from the ranks of overeas pilots and from the R.NZ.A.F. “As well aviation mark ting conditions generally are r.ot that buoyant at .ie moi..ent — there is a lov- turn-over of pilots with Air New Zealand.” he said. Air New Zealand s pilot recruitment has been minimal in the past year, said Mr Saxton. The airline had most neeu for new pilots when it acquired new aircraft types, but that was not likely to happen for some time.