Our first reaction to the news that Jetstar had promoted the first female chief pilot in the history of Australia was a distinct, “what!? We don’t already have one?”
No, we didn’t. Not until now.
Captain Georgina Sutton, who will replace Captain Mark Rindfleish from February 2015, was already the highest-ever ranked female pilot in Australian aviation before being appointed to the Jetstar job.
Think about this.
How many times have you been on a plane, and heard the familiar deep voice of a man inform you that “this is your Captain speaking…”
Try – pretty much every time you’re on a plane.
But now, finally, Australia is levelling the gender playing field and giving women the opportunity to direct, control and be the face of our airlines.
Georgina will oversee the largest fleet of travellers, with around 900 pilots reporting to her.
On her appointment, Georgina said, “I think the women pilots within Qantas are very thrilled that I’ve been appointed to this role. I think it is also a very positive position for me to be in to act as a role model for them. It is something they can aspire to.”
Top Comments
Sadly she never treated the more junior pilots with any respect...she has walked on heads to get where she is. .. my daughter is a brilliant pilot and thankfully is loved and respected by all she flies with. ...she never forgets the hard road up.
What about using Deborah Wardley as a role model? She was the first female pilot employed with Ansett in 1980. The RAAF have been training female pilots since the mid to late 1980s. There is no conspiracy to the low number of female pilots except perhaps a lack of interest.