Breaking Barriers: Supporting Female Pilots and Motherhood

One argument often used against female pilots is that they aren't suited to the lifestyle. The constant travelling and inconsistent work hours are incompatible with motherhood and the traditional roles of a woman in a relationship.

Thankfully this isn’t true, as proven daily by the many fantastic women who are both pilots and mothers. But this isn’t to say that it’s easy.

The flight deck is a unique work environment and creates a challenge for breastfeeding mothers. To acquire the necessary privacy and space for breast-pumping, mothers would have to leave the flight deck for extended periods of time which can raise safety concerns. 

Are we doing enough to help support these mothers? The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) doesn’t think so. They say, “The current level of statutory maternity pay offered by most airlines, is an obstacle that puts women off joining the profession.”

Statutory maternity pay is £145 per week from weeks 7-39, which can mean pilots taking a 90% pay cut. The BALPA is calling for full pay for the first 26 weeks of maternity leave and half pay for the remainder of the statutory maternity leave.

A number of UK airlines have since introduced these terms or at least improved their maternity policies, however, there are still many women who will be affected by these unfair and outdated policies.

And it’s not just the UK; in the US, pilots are exempt from a provision in the Affordable Care Act requiring employers to accommodate new mothers. This means that employers are only required to provide unpaid leave for 12 weeks, meaning female pilots completely lose their income.

One of the key difficulties in changing policy that affects women in the airline industry is the lack of support. With only 6% of pilots being female in the UK, issues that are centred around women are not priorities for union collective bargaining efforts.

Many male pilots are not supportive of fighting for these policy changes on behalf of their female colleagues as they fail to see the policies as important. 

For many women and girls, becoming a mother is an important priority and goal in their lives. Without appropriate support, women can feel they must choose between motherhood or their career. This works to deter young women from becoming pilots as they feel the lifestyle will limit their options.