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WOMEN are learning to fly in increasing numbers to meet the demands of Australian airlines that are struggling to recruit pilots.
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Image: BREAKING through the gender barrier . . . Griffith University aviation students, from left: Bec Larkin, Madeleine Davies, Madeleine Turnbull, Kara Robinson, Shari Cunningham, Nicole Forrester, Danica Henderson, Britney Taylor and Sarah Hickey, front. Picture: Lisa Clarke
QantasLink and Rex have had to drop scheduled runs in Queensland, and the major domestics including Qantas and Virgin Blue are finding it hard to employ cockpit crews.
The difficulty will be exacerbated further when Tiger Airways builds up its fleet to about 30 aircraft.
At 18, Brisbane's Nicole Forrester hopes to challenge the view that males dominate the skies.
Along with 27 other women, she is among 110 first-year students enrolled in Griffith University's aviation course.
"Flying was always a distant dream which seemed impossible to realise because of the cost of learning privately," she said. "The RAAF was an alternative but that meant a 15-year commitment.
"Instead, I have settled for the university's aviation degree which will take three years, after which I hope to become a second officer on Qantas international flights."
Ms Forrester, who took the controls of a trainer aircraft for the first time on Sunday, said the course was the only way she could afford to learn.
The cost can be covered by the HECS scheme which she will repay after getting a job.
Griffith's associate professor of aviation, Paul Bates, said the image of commercial pilots being a male-dominated profession was changing.
"We will see a marked change in the profile of the industry in the next three years as these graduates begin to come online," Professor Bates said.
"University education for professional pilots is now mainstream, with the majority of pilots heading this way because of the clear benefits it has over previous ways of entering this career."
by Peter Morley | SOURCE | Courier Mail | News.com.au
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