INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightHindustan TimesAirlines have been stepping up their efforts to recruit more female pilots to meet the increasing demand for
Spending on travel and tourism has spiked in recent years, with customers keen to spend their money on new experiences.There were nearly 350
million more international tourists in 2017 than in 2010, according to the World Tourism Organization
Which airline employs the most female pilotsGlobally, just 5.18% of commercial pilots are women, according to the Air Line Pilots
Association International trade union
Indian airlines employ the highest proportion of female pilots at 12.4%
That's according to the latest statistics from the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP)
Zoom Air, a regional Indian airline, tops the leader board
ISWAP says it employs nine female pilots out of a total of 30
Kathy McCullough, communications chairwoman for ISWAP and a retired female captain, said that Indian companies have "aggressively encouraged
more women to become airline pilots in what they see as an upcoming pilot shortage."A report by Boeing found that with a growing middle
class in India, commercial air travel is expected to become more frequent
In the UK, about 4.77% of airline pilots are women
How much do pilots earn on averageA typical day for an airline pilot could include flying passengers or cargo to short-haul or more
far-flung destinations.Commercial pilots' salaries depend on the airline they're working for, the type of aircraft they fly and their level
But what about the gender pay gap Earlier this year, UK companies with more than 250 employees were required to report their gender pay gap
figures for the first time.British airlines were cited as having large gender pay gaps, which is the percentage difference between average
hourly earnings for all male and female staff.The average median pay difference between men and women was 9.7% across all industries.Ryanair
reported the largest gender pay gap for an airline (71.8%)
EasyJet had a 45.5% pay gap, but said that men and women in the same roles are paid equally.But much of the gap can be explained by one
thing - the proportion of male pilots
At EasyJet, for example, pilots make up a quarter of its UK employees
pilots should be female by 2020
What other obstacles do potential pilots face Before starting their training, potential airline pilots need to hold a Class 1 Medical
Most training schools and airlines also require five GCSEs and two A-levels in the UK
If you meet those requirements, there are several ways to get off the ground:Getting an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, or a 'frozen
It can take around 18 months to finish the course, which is a mix of theory and flying
After at least 1,500 flying hours, you can apply for a full ATPL
Doing a degree in aviation which includes pilot training
But a degree isn't essential and costs for flight training come on top of tuition fees
Taking a higher level apprenticeship in professional aviation pilot practice
The British Airline Pilots' Association has highlighted difficulties which aspiring pilots can face when funding their training
It has said that the high cost of training can put off those from less affluent backgrounds
Initiatives have also been set up to encourage young women's interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects,
which can be useful for those looking to become a pilot
Captain Kate McWilliams, an EasyJet employee, became the world's youngest female airline captain at the age of 26
She said: "A lot of people think it's a highly technical job, which puts them off
"But a huge amount of it is being good with people
As a captain, you're a people manager
There needs to be a change in perception around the job."
