– At first I thought it wouldn’t work. But gradually the desire grew stronger and stronger. Pilot Malin Jenssen Lirhus (23) stands at a lookout point by the runway at Sola Airport in Stavanger. A plane preparing for takeoff drones in the distance. She first got the idea of becoming a pilot when she was 17. Together with her older sister, she went through various career paths. Out of the blue the sister suggested pilot. – At that time, I had never seen a lady in the cockpit when I looked in. I hadn’t thought about it being something I could become. Someone just had to suggest it to me. The statistics may indicate that Jenssen Lirhus is not alone in not considering pilot training as a possible path. 3.3 per cent women in the Norwegian Aviation Association The trend is clear. Far more men than women are pilots. The Norwegian Aviation Association (NF) has a total of 2,200 members. 148 of these are female pilots. This corresponds to 3.3 percent. Figures from Utdanning.no show that piloting is one of the most gender-divided professions in Norway, with a female share of 4.5 per cent. Proportion of women in various occupations Construction machine operator, 2 per cent Car mechanic (light vehicles): 1.9 per cent Plumber: 1.4 per cent Well operator: 3.5 per cent Diver: 2.4 per cent Electrician: 2.6 per cent Elevator fitter: 0.9 per cent Industrial painter: 1.4 per cent Industrial plumber: 1.7 per cent Insulator: 1.2 per cent Specialist crane and lifting operations operator (Crane operator): 3 per cent Cooling and heat pump technician: 1.3 per cent Coastal skipper: 1.2 per cent Professional driver: 4.5 per cent Energy fitter: 3.2 per cent Source: Uddanning.no Worldwide, there are 6 per cent female pilots, according to figures from ICAO. In Europe, the proportion is even lower. 4 percent of the European pilots working there were women. In 2020, Malin started at the Pilot Flight Academy in Sandefjord. In the class of 30, she was the only girl. – I thought there would be few girls, she says. – But not that I should be the only one. Malin Jenssen Lirhus behind the levers in a Diamond 42 over Notodden on the way to Torp airport. Photo: Privat First female route pilot Norway’s first female traffic pilot was Turi Widerøe. She started as a pilot in Widerøe in 1965. On 1 July 2024, there are 6.4 per cent female pilots in Widerøe. Now 86-year-old Turi Widerøe is not happy about the proportion of women. – It is a little lower than I expected, but all over the world there are many female commercial pilots who have disproved that we have nothing to do in the cockpit, says Widerøe to news. Turi Widerøe behind the levers on the Caravelle. After ten years as a route pilot, Turi Widerøe had to quit because she had small children. Photo: Pål Thoresen / news After ten years as a route pilot in SAS, Turi Widerøe had to quit because she had small children. – I was left alone with the children, and then I had to leave them to strangers for many days in a row if I was to continue in my job. It was a hard choice, says Widerøe. The airline Widerøe wants more female pilots. – We are completely dependent on having more female pilots in the cockpit, says Satha Sritharan, press officer in Widerøe, Satha Sritharan. Since Turi Widerøe became an airline pilot, Widerøe has taken steps to make the pilot profession more compatible with family life. – Over many years, we have built a good rotation arrangement and everyday working life that can be combined with a full-fledged family life. As a pilot you travel a lot, but that doesn’t have to mean that you can’t have an everyday life outside of work. Satha Sritharan, press officer in Widerøe. Photo: Widerøe In Widerøe, the proportion of female pilots is increasing, but is still too low. – The airline industry has traditionally had a preponderance of male employees. This is still valid and Widerøe is unfortunately no exception. Will make the road easier: – Will never be 50/50 On 8 March 2019, the international network Female Pilot Working Group was established. The purpose of the community is to improve working conditions for female pilots worldwide. In January this year, the Norwegian Aviation Association held its first gathering for female pilots. The association is in the process of investigating the need for a separate Female Pilot Working Group in Norway, says Anita Pryme Hystad. – What are often major problems are matters surrounding pregnancy, family growth, leave solutions and the possibility of working part-time. We have largely arranged conditions for this in Scandinavia, she says and adds: – Our biggest challenge in Norway is the lack of recruitment of women. Anita Pryme Hystad is one of two representatives from the Norwegian Aviation Association in the IFALPA Female Pilot Working Group. Photo: Private – Why is it worth working for more women to become pilots? – We want to make the road easier for those coming behind. I don’t think we will ever reach a 50/50 balance, but we can bring about a gradual increase, so that everyone who wants to, has the opportunity to choose the profession, regardless of gender. Hystad believes a lack of role models is one of the reasons why women are underrepresented. – Unless you know someone or happen to stumble across it, it might not be something you think about entirely by yourself, says Hystad. It was also an inspiration for Hystad when she came across a female pilot. – The sudden appearance of a female pilot with long, blonde hair and Ray-Bans and looking very cool made me think: If she can, I guess I can too. Higher proportion of women at flight schools If we look at flight schools, the proportion of women who become pilots is somewhat higher. Mikael Eriksson at Pilot Flight Academy. Photo: Privat In Norway, it is possible to train as a pilot in the Air Force, on a bachelor’s and master’s degree in aviation at the University of Tromsø and at private pilot schools such as the Pilot Flight Academy. Figures obtained by news show that there are a maximum of 15 per cent women in each batch at the University of Tromsø (UiT) and the Pilot Flight Academy. Proportion of female aviation students at the University of Tromsø: 2017: 5 out of 65 2018: 5 out of 70 2019: 5 out of 75 2020: 5 out of 70 2021: 10 out of 75 2022: 10 out of 85 2023: 10 out of 95 Pilot training at the Pilot Flight Academy: 2014: 0 per cent 2015: 18.2 per cent 2016: 6.5 per cent 2017: 7.1 per cent 2018: 8.0 per cent 2019: 9.9 per cent 2020: 9.0 per cent 2021: 12.9 per cent 2022: 3, 8 per cent 2023: 13.0 per cent – That is far too low, says Mikael Eriksson, CEO of Pilot Flight Academy. Eriksson also worked for 39 years at SAS. – There is nothing to say that there should not be 50 per cent men and women. Eriksson notices that young girls come to study fairs and ask if the Pilot Flight Academy also trains flight attendants. – The answer is no, but I ask them if they would rather become a pilot. “No, if you’re going to have a family, you’ll be away so much”, many answer. Then I reply that you will be gone at least as much if you become a flight attendant, but you will earn a fraction, he says. Does not bear the stamp of an offshore father Malin Jenssen Lirhus does not let himself be worried that the pilot profession is potentially difficult to reconcile with a family life. – I have a girlfriend who is supportive and I have no doubt that we will figure it out, says Malin Jenssen Lirhus. Photo: Mari Wigdel – I have also grown up with a father who has been offshore in the North Sea all my life, and I can’t say that I bear any traces of that. He was still very much present. If a man is going to be able to do it, why not a woman? Published 14.07.2024, at 07.48
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Pilot Malin (23) was the only girl in the class – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
