Meet the Tui pilot on a mission to get more women into aviation
Ilaria Grasso MacolaTui pilot of eight years Amy Bannister is marking this year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) with a plea for more women to join the aviation sector.
Bannister, who has followed in her father’s footsteps in becoming a pilot, said no two days were the same, and that her career in the cockpit had so far proved highly rewarding.
Since joining Tui, Bannister has also become a theoretical knowledge instructor, equipped to train train new generations of pilots and cabin crew members.
“Being a pilot challenges you every day, all while you get to meet new people – and have one of the best office views in the world,” she added.
He comments come with the UK is still lagging behind other countries when it comes to numbers of women pilots.
According to recent figures published by statistics website Statista, only 4.8% of UK pilots were women in 2021, significantly below India’s 12.4% and Ireland’s 9.9%.
Tui, though, believes the tide is turning after investing heavily in diverse recruitment. It announced in mid-December it was launching its multi-crew pilot licence (MPL) programme, the first “train now, pay later” scheme in the UK.
The airline and operator will pay tuition fees for 30 cadets, reclaiming the costs later from pilots’ salaries over the first four years of employment.
"Training commences with ground school, followed by basic flying training and then the advanced flying training phases,” said Tui Airways’ director Malcolm Sutherland.
“After this, trainees gain a broader understanding of our business before commencing operational line training on the 737.”
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