We chat with three female Jetstar pilots about the high life

WORDS DEREK ROYAL
PHOTOGRAPHY ANDREW CHRISTOS

Much has changed in the Australian aviation industry, and it’s not all technological advancement – over the past decade, more and more Australian women have taken to the skies and beaten the odds to become professional pilots. According to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the number of women [fb02] ying for airlines more than trebled between 1996 and 2006. And last year, out of more than 30,000 licence-holders, from novice to professional, 10,800 were female.

Australia’s treasured aviatrix, 91-year-old Nancy Bird, was the pioneer, becoming the country’s [fb01] rst female commercial pilot in the 1930s and establishing the in[fb02] uential Australian Women Pilots’ Association in 1950. “I’m thrilled with the numbers of girls [fb02] ying today,” says Bird. “I’m very proud of them, because during my prime, women couldn’t get a job at any price. I may have been Australia’s [fb01] rst commercial pilot, but it took another 16 years before another girl was employed! I’m just so happy times are changing for the better.”

Chaytor beside her planeJetstar pilots Alison Bray, Narelle Cooper and Brooke Chaytor are just three of the women Jetstar employs as pilots. Bray was just 17 years old when she [fb01] rst started learning to [fb02] y and now, at 33, she’s an experienced A320 commander. “I’ve wanted to be a pilot since I was seven,” Bray says. “When I was at high school I went to an Air Force careers adviser and said I wanted to be a pilot. He looked at me and laughed and said, ‘But you’re a girl!’ I said, ‘Thanks very much,’ and walked out.” Despite the early setback, Bray’s drive and determination helped her achieve her [fb02] ying ambition. She graduated with an aviation degree from Newcastle University and built up her hours as a [fb02] ight instructor, charter pilot and regional airline pilot at Impulse Airlines before attaining her A320 command in 2006.

“I think the female presence in many male-dominated industries has increased in the past decade,” Bray says. “Lots of women say to me, ‘I’ve always wanted to be a pilot,’ and I always answer, ‘There’s no reason why you can’t be.’”

One reason women have not followed their dreams in the past, Bray thinks, is that family commitments may have stood in their way, and the old notion that you can’t have both a family and a career. These days, she says, “the average age of women starting families is well into the 30s, which means we can start our career, get it established and then have a family,” says Bray. “There’s also much more support for young families, which enables us to return to the career we love so much.” Bray is living proof of that: she met her husband Jeff at university and today, not only are they both Jetstar A320 captains, they’re also the proud parents of baby Lachlan.

Her advice for young girls interested in pursuing a [fb02] ying career? “If it’s what you want to do, then just go ahead and do it. There are no excuses. Girls are just as capable as guys. Don’t ever give up on what you want. If there are obstacles, the rewards in the end will make it all worthwhile,” she says.

Bray in the captain’s seatNarelle Cooper is also a flying mum, and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I personally have had no problems with gender bias in the industry,” says the 39-year-old mother of two. “I was the only girl in almost every flying course that I completed, but I never felt that I wasn’t accepted.” A former instructor and charter pilot, Cooper started her airline career with Eastern Australia Airlines, and created history when she became Australia’s first female Dash 8 captain. Ten years later, she joined Jetstar as a Boeing 717 first officer and currently sits in the right-hand seat of the A320.

“I’ve found that any bit of nervousness comes from the person that’s flying alongside me,” says Cooper. “Many male colleagues have confided in me that they’ve never flown with a female before and I reply: ‘I do it exactly the same as the boys, only my voice is a bit higher.’ Most of the women I’ve met in aviation are similar to me: we just want to be one of the boys, in that we are accepted for what we do, not what we look like.”

Cooper’s male colleagues may be comfortable sharing the cockpit with a woman, but she admits she’s had unpleasant comments from passengers. “I had one passenger a very long time ago not proceed with a charter because of my gender,” she says. “Usually they say, ‘My God, it’s a woman! Is there a man up there with her?’ I’ve heard it all before and don’t take it too seriously, but I did have one elderly lady passenger complain that I hadn’t given her any inflight service and that I gossiped the whole way with the pilot!”

Flying mum, Narelle Cooper

Cooper isn’t sure whether flying is becoming more of a career choice for women, but she does believe that society is becoming less stereotyped. “I think most of the changes in society in the last two generations have shown that women can make choices,” she says. “To be a pilot, you need plenty of determination and perseverance, whether you’re male or female. Having the qualifications doesn’t automatically enable you to progress to the next stage. Most pilots get their hours up instructing or flying charter but there are usually more pilots than positions, so it’s a tough industry to get into.”

Cooper loves every aspect of her job, “except the 3.30am alarm”. “We get to see some amazing sights,” she says. “Every day there are challenges and a different crew makes most days more interesting. Then there’s the perfect landing to try and achieve every time. I just really enjoy being in the air, flying. It’s the ultimate job.”

Not so long ago, night freight pilot Brooke Chaytor was just dreaming of flying a jet airliner – now she’s achieved that ambition at Jetstar. Chaytor only recently joined the company, after spending more than two years criss-crossing Australia on night freight operations for Pel-Air. “Aeroplanes and flying have always fascinated me,” Chaytor says. “I wanted a career that was challenging, ever-changing and constantly rewarding, and being a pilot has given me all that and more.”

Chaytor believes that more women want this. “I think being a pilot was once believed to be a job for adventurous men, but the industry continues to progress and while it’s still hard work, it’s also very rewarding,” she says.

“In all the jobs I’ve had, there have been very few times day-to-day when I’ve been made to feel that this is a male-dominated industry, where it’s made obvious to me in any way that there’s any distinguishing between men and women. I’ve just felt like one of the crew. If you behave professionally, I think more often than not you’ll be treated that way.

“You have to be dedicated and work hard. Have pride in what you do and eventually you’ll reap the rewards!” Let’s hope many more women do follow in the footsteps of this inspiring foursome – left into the cockpit.