As part of the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter’s Meet the Signatories series, members of the Charter explain why they joined the Charter, and what steps they have since taken to ensure the inclusion of women in the sectors.
Next in the series, we talk to the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA):
Please name your organisation and explain what it does in the aviation or aerospace industry
The British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) is a non-profit organisation run completely by volunteers. The organisation is the oldest organisation of its kind, currently celebrating it’s 65th year and exists to inspire and support women in all areas of aviation and all types of flying, including fixed wing, rotary, gliding, microlights, and ballooning.
Members of the BWPA are involved in all areas of aviation, including commercial flying, recreational flying, instructing, air traffic control and engineering. Members are of all ages, experiences and backgrounds, but share a common passion.
Why did you join the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter?
The BWPAs aims fall in line with the promotion of Women in Aviation; (1)To promote the training and employment of women in aviation, and the promotion of practical schemes to assist women to gain air licences; including raising awareness of opportunities for females of all ages. (2) To act as advisers to women regarding the training required and the openings available in aviation.(3) To promote and encourage collaboration between members of the Association, and to enable women in aviation to meet and exchange knowledge of mutual interest and to communicate views from the Association.
What steps are your organisation now taking to help improve gender balance in the industry?
The BWPA has worked continuously to encourage women in aviation and have been active in providing STEM Ambassadors who work to promote and normalise seeing women who work in the aviation workplace for the benefit of Schools and Youth Groups. We also provide scholarships, bursaries and training days; in 2020 we have awarded eleven scholarships towards flight training or ground school, and are awarding a further 12 bursaries to assist pilots with continuation simulator training (due to Covid 19 affecting job or training continuity), while training has continued online. The clearest indication of our success with increasing numbers of women entering the commercial flight decks has been in direct relationship to our involvement with the Amy Johnson Project and easyJet who aimed to increase their intake of female candidates to 20% by 2020, which was achieved.