Comments on: Downsized Men on Page One of the New York Times http://www.feministlawprofessors.com/2009/10/downsized-men-on-page-one-of-the-new-york-times/ Nearly all of us root for fairness, not for our own sex. - Nicholas Kristof Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:26:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sharon Sandeen http://www.feministlawprofessors.com/2009/10/downsized-men-on-page-one-of-the-new-york-times/comment-page-1/#comment-5920 Sharon Sandeen Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:56:27 +0000 http://feministlawprofessors.com/?p=13353#comment-5920 What struck me about the article is that Lawlor became a captain after less than four years of experience in the cockpit. I wonder how many women with the same level of experience were made captains in 2007? It may be that the demand for pilots at that time was so great that first officers were promoted earlier than normal. The article would have been more interesting if this aspect of the situation had been examined. What also struck me is how low the pay is for first officers, but I believe that is a function of requirements related to the number of flight hours pilots need to progress in their careers. Unfortunately (although things have gotten better), men always had an advantage in this area because they could get flight time in the military. The path to become a pilot for most women (as I understand it) is through Regional Carriers, which may explain why the pay is so low for entry level pilots. What struck me about the article is that Lawlor became a captain after less than four years of experience in the cockpit. I wonder how many women with the same level of experience were made captains in 2007? It may be that the demand for pilots at that time was so great that first officers were promoted earlier than normal. The article would have been more interesting if this aspect of the situation had been examined.

What also struck me is how low the pay is for first officers, but I believe that is a function of requirements related to the number of flight hours pilots need to progress in their careers. Unfortunately (although things have gotten better), men always had an advantage in this area because they could get flight time in the military. The path to become a pilot for most women (as I understand it) is through Regional Carriers, which may explain why the pay is so low for entry level pilots.

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