Each year women pilots trek around the country and no, not on foot, no, not by car, yes, by plane. Two or three women hop into their small airplane and join many other women from around the country on a three day adventure. I have always wanted to take part in this and this year I am truly making an effort. My boss has put me to work looking at all the figures and how much it would cost to send two girl on this expedition. It would be me an one of the students at the Training Center. Unfortunately BSC will not allow us to take one of the College airplane's thus leaving us to join another team of women. I really wish the college would let us take the airplane. It would truly be an amazing experience and beneficial not only to the pilot but the college. This would be major advertising to the college, flying across the country in a plane with our logo in it would bring A LOT of women pilots our way.
It would be a 10 day expedition and a whole lot of fun. Whether I am able to take one of the college's planes or join a team I would be ecstatic to engage in such an experience. The Women's Air Race Classic 2009 starts in Denver, CO then stops at Liberal, KS, Sweetwater, TX, Lufkin, TX, Russellville, AR, Grenada, MS, Sparta, TN, Jacksonville, IL, Racine, WI, and finally comes to a close at Atlantic, IA. The women must travel to all the cities and finish within three days. This could be an amazing experience for me and one of the BSC Aviation women students and I truly hope it is approved by BSC. Wish me luck!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Its Not as Bad as I Thought...
Phew!! The guys at work accepted me real quick. Friday afternoon we were all sitting around talking like we had been friends for a while. At that point I knew everything would be 'ok'. I am very excited to be there more often. The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming.
My other job is as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant in Westboro, MA. I thought I would tell you this because it is the complete opposite of my job as a flight instructor. The entire waitstaff are women, therefore I am constantly surrounded by the same gender which is what I have become accustomed to over the past two years. It is a very different atmosphere. I have never been one to get in with a clique. It's not my type of thing. When working at the restaurant there is a clique and it is very annoying, but because i have been around long enough i brush it off and don't get involved. The first few months I worked at the restaurant I felt like the 'outcast', it took a long time to feel accepted. After two years I am accepted, but not interested in getting involved with the clique. At my job in New Bedford, MA as a Flight Instructor I felt welcomed after one week! This brings me to the conclusion, girls will be girls and guys will be guys. Girls will always have their cliques and guys don't even bother to form such groups. I enjoy the change in atmosphere from one job to the next and it also lets me analyze how different the two genders do behave.
My other job is as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant in Westboro, MA. I thought I would tell you this because it is the complete opposite of my job as a flight instructor. The entire waitstaff are women, therefore I am constantly surrounded by the same gender which is what I have become accustomed to over the past two years. It is a very different atmosphere. I have never been one to get in with a clique. It's not my type of thing. When working at the restaurant there is a clique and it is very annoying, but because i have been around long enough i brush it off and don't get involved. The first few months I worked at the restaurant I felt like the 'outcast', it took a long time to feel accepted. After two years I am accepted, but not interested in getting involved with the clique. At my job in New Bedford, MA as a Flight Instructor I felt welcomed after one week! This brings me to the conclusion, girls will be girls and guys will be guys. Girls will always have their cliques and guys don't even bother to form such groups. I enjoy the change in atmosphere from one job to the next and it also lets me analyze how different the two genders do behave.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
My Instructor....A Woman?
Imagine walking into a flight school and noticing the majority of students and instructors are male. Now imagine walking into that flight school as a fellow male student ready to meet your instructor, then you see a woman that is a five foot four blonde, what do you think your first thought would be. Mine would definately be that is MY instructor??? When you think flight instructor you think male, there's no doubt about it.
This is the image that I am now fighting. I will soon be assigned my students and I know what their reaction will be, and it is not comforting knowing what each will be thinking. Is she really a pilot? There's no way she will teach me the right way? Does she even know how to fly? I want a new instructor.
I know that no matter what I do not need to prove to anyone that I am a good flight instructor. I have the license and thats all that matters. I have the training. I have the knowledge. No one can doubt me or my skills. This will definately be a hard image to fight, but I am armed and ready for the battle.
This is the image that I am now fighting. I will soon be assigned my students and I know what their reaction will be, and it is not comforting knowing what each will be thinking. Is she really a pilot? There's no way she will teach me the right way? Does she even know how to fly? I want a new instructor.
I know that no matter what I do not need to prove to anyone that I am a good flight instructor. I have the license and thats all that matters. I have the training. I have the knowledge. No one can doubt me or my skills. This will definately be a hard image to fight, but I am armed and ready for the battle.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I Got The Job :-)
The interview was Tuesday and it went very well. I printed hard copies of my resume, cover letter, and references and picked out the most professional outfit I owned. The night before I kept telling myself there is no way he will take me for anything BUT professional.
I arrive at the Training Center 45 minutes early (because of the snow) and wait until 3:00. Loren was just how I had remembered, very calm and he knew what he was talking about. We sat in his office and talked for an hour and a half about his reasons for bringing me in for the interview, his plans for the Flight School, and what he hoped to gain out of the interview. Immediately, he told me that I was in there for a reason and he knew the type of person I was and that I would be a good addition to the school.
He definitely treated me like every other person who walked through the doors to the school, and it never seemed to make him wonder if I could cut it in a man's profession.
I emailed him after the interview with my availability and today he informed me that I have the job! I am currently waiting to find out when I start my training. Hopefully soon! This is a very exciting opportunity for me and gives me hope for my future in this industry.
I arrive at the Training Center 45 minutes early (because of the snow) and wait until 3:00. Loren was just how I had remembered, very calm and he knew what he was talking about. We sat in his office and talked for an hour and a half about his reasons for bringing me in for the interview, his plans for the Flight School, and what he hoped to gain out of the interview. Immediately, he told me that I was in there for a reason and he knew the type of person I was and that I would be a good addition to the school.
He definitely treated me like every other person who walked through the doors to the school, and it never seemed to make him wonder if I could cut it in a man's profession.
I emailed him after the interview with my availability and today he informed me that I have the job! I am currently waiting to find out when I start my training. Hopefully soon! This is a very exciting opportunity for me and gives me hope for my future in this industry.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
An Opportunity
This week is a new week. Me, the newly Certified Flight Instructor, has an interview on Tuesday with Bridgewater Flight School. I am very excited. It was the first flight school I contacted after recieving my license. Loren Herren, the Chief Flight Instructor, informed me that all available positions had been filled, but would still like to meet with me. Why would he still want to interview me when he has no positions? This gives me some optimism. Maybe he will hire me afterall. I will keep my fingers crossed.
I have known Loren since my freshman year here at BSC. He was also the Chief Flight Instructor of Delta Connection Academy, which was the previous flight school associated with BSC. When they left I lost contact with Loren. He was always very interested in the progress of the students at the academy and was constantly in contact with my parents informing them of my achievements. Due to the fact that I have known Loren I also have some hope that he may give me the next available position at the flight school. I will update the blog next week after the interview. Here are some questions I will answer in the following blog.
Will Loren treat me as an equal? Just as a treats the other men he has hired?
There are no women currently hired at the flight school. Is this the reason he is interested in giving me an interview? To make the work environment more diverse?
Let me know your opinion. How do you think Loren treat me? (Loren is a male) What are the consequences if he does not treat me as an equal?
I have known Loren since my freshman year here at BSC. He was also the Chief Flight Instructor of Delta Connection Academy, which was the previous flight school associated with BSC. When they left I lost contact with Loren. He was always very interested in the progress of the students at the academy and was constantly in contact with my parents informing them of my achievements. Due to the fact that I have known Loren I also have some hope that he may give me the next available position at the flight school. I will update the blog next week after the interview. Here are some questions I will answer in the following blog.
Will Loren treat me as an equal? Just as a treats the other men he has hired?
There are no women currently hired at the flight school. Is this the reason he is interested in giving me an interview? To make the work environment more diverse?
Let me know your opinion. How do you think Loren treat me? (Loren is a male) What are the consequences if he does not treat me as an equal?
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's just the begining. . .
Hi, my name is Amanda. I am a senior at Bridgewater State College. I am graduating in May with a degree in Aviation Flight Training and Aviation Management. This past friday I became a Certified Flight Instructor and have been apart of the "Aviation World" for nearly the past 4 years. I am in the process of applying to flight schools in the Northeast hoping to find a job as a flight instructor.
I never thought it would be so hard to participate in a male dominated major, but it is. At first i was able to hang with the guys and keep up with their flight training pace or even complete my ratings before them. I soon noticed that they were very competitive and would bicker about who is the better pilot. Today I have been able to overlook their high ego's, but that does not mean it does not bother me. Life is hard when everything is a competition. My question for them is, why does it matter who is the better pilot? In the end does it really matter? Will the pilot with the high ego, lacking people skills, and the ability to relate with other pilots get a job over another pilot with mediocre piloting skills, immaculate people skills, and with the ability to easily relate to all of his/her co workers?
Let me know what you, my reader, think.
I never thought it would be so hard to participate in a male dominated major, but it is. At first i was able to hang with the guys and keep up with their flight training pace or even complete my ratings before them. I soon noticed that they were very competitive and would bicker about who is the better pilot. Today I have been able to overlook their high ego's, but that does not mean it does not bother me. Life is hard when everything is a competition. My question for them is, why does it matter who is the better pilot? In the end does it really matter? Will the pilot with the high ego, lacking people skills, and the ability to relate with other pilots get a job over another pilot with mediocre piloting skills, immaculate people skills, and with the ability to easily relate to all of his/her co workers?
Let me know what you, my reader, think.
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