Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced on 12 March 20205 that they are pledging Php 10 million to the PAL Foundation through our Fly With Her Program to increase female representation in the airline’s pilot workforce. This program supports PAL’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and gender equity in aviation, as well as the PAL Foundation’s mandate to provide scholarships to disadvantaged yet deserving students. The flagship airline for the Philippines is celebrating #InternationalWomensMonth with a strong commitment to empowering aspiring women pilots.
Rationale behind 'Fly With Her Program'
According to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation Pty Ltd (CAPA), women pilots still only account for approximately 6% of the total pilots worldwide. In the UK the growth in the number of female pilots is outstripping that of total pilot numbers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reported a 26% increase in all pilot licences (not just airline pilots) issued to women in the UK between 2019 and 2023; however, the proportion of women pilots flying with airlines in the UK, and in the US, is still only around 5%. So while female airline crew numbers in the cockpit are growing, gender equality still has a long way to go as afr as pilots are concerned.
"When little girls see women take on leadership roles, it inspires them to pursue the same and possibly go beyond."
Captain Lilybeth T. Ng, AVP, Pilot Affairs, Philippine Airlines
PAL D&I initiatives
Championing women in aviation is something PAL has done for decades. In 1989, Aimee Carandang-Gloria, a PAL pilot, became Southeast Asia's first woman pilot to fly a commercial airline flight. She broke barriers again in 1993, by becoming the region's first woman airline captain. To date, over 80 women pilots fly for PAL, representing 9% of their pilot roster. The "Fly With Her" Program (Programme) is an initiative by PAL, in partnership with PAL Foundation, aimed at increasing female representation in the airline’s pilot workforce. The Programme aligns with PAL’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and fostering gender equity in the aviation industry and with PAL Foundation's mandate to provide educational opportunities through scholarships, furthering its goal of creating a positive impact on society. Captain Lilybeth T. Ng, AVP for Pilot Affairs said, "When little girls see women take on leadership roles, it inspires them to pursue the same and possibly go beyond."
Helping those who need it most
The key programme objective is to provide scholarships to aspiring Filipina pilots needing financial assistance. PAL will allocate PHP 10,000,000.00, to be managed by the PAL Foundation, in support of the Programme, with a quarter of a million Pesos awarded to each of four deserving and qualified female cadet pilots to help kickstart their aviation training. The scholarship award will be disbursed directly to the designated partner school to help partially cover the tuition fee for the candidates’ pilot education. PAL will oversee the selection process of eligible candidates, with final selection being made by the PAL President and the Board of Directors. Selection will be based on financial need, merit, potential, and adherence to the Program’s eligibility criteria. The PAL Foundation will manage the disbursement of the funds and overall administration of the Programme, ensuring the selection process is fair and transparent.
To qualify for consideration under the Programme, all applicants must:
- Be a female cadet.
- Demonstrate financial need and inability to fully fund aviation training, supported by appropriate documentation.
- Have finished at least an undergraduate college/university degree program and possess strong academic records, particularly in fields related to STEM
- Have an aptitude for aviation.
- Be proficient in spoken and written English.
- Be physically and mentally fit as certified by PAL aviation medical professionals.
- Have no adverse, disqualifying, or derogatory records.
- Be willing to apply and enroll to PAL’s partner aviation school.
- Comply with all training and assessment requirements as determined by PAL.
- Demonstrate exemplary conduct, leadership potential, and dedication to the aviation profession.
- Complete aviation training within 12 months, demonstrating the ability to commit full-time to the Programme.
- Commit to serving with PAL after training.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
