The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has signed the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter, which reaffirms the union’s commitment to gender equality and inclusivity in the aviation industry.
The charter sets out BALPA’s commitment to advancing the careers of women in aviation and creating an environment where women can thrive in piloting and other aviation roles.
BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said: “We are delighted to sign up to the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter. A third of our National Executive Council are women and we are proud to lead by example in aviation. In signing the charter we’re taking another step towards greater diversity, in collaboration with others across the industry.
“Anyone with the talent and skills to be a pilot should have the opportunity to do so. It is only by working together that we can break down barriers and create a future where women have equal representation and opportunity in aviation.”
Victoria Foy and Sumati Sharma, co-Chairs of the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter welcomed the announcement saying: “We’re delighted to welcome BALPA, our first aviation-specific union to be a Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter signatory. Females make up just 5% of commercial pilots, and BALPA’s commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion to all who pursue this journey is admirable.
“The Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter remains committed to supporting women and their allies towards delivering increased gender diversity in our industries.”
BALPA is the union that represents UK airline pilots and has a long history of working towards gender equality on the flight deck. Current only around 6% of pilots are women although this number grows year on year. Many UK airlines actively work towards recruiting more female pilots.
