Travel News - South Korea's first female pilots get their wings

http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/south-koreas-first-female-pilots-get-their-wings/2008/11/06/1225561003556.html

South Korea has its first female civil pilots after two women passed a state test, officials said Wednesday.
Shin Soo-Jin, 39, and Hong Soo-In, 36, of flag carrier Korean Air, have qualified to fly the B-737 airplane, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said.
The two joined Korean Air in 1996 when it began hiring female co-pilots, an airline spokeswoman said. They are expected to make their maiden flight as pilots in mid-November.

Good for them. I never thought I would see that happen there.

I want to echo finlandia's post. One of the ironies about Korea is how, for all of its advances in technology and competitiveness in the contemporary world market, it is still a century behind with respect to how women are treated.

While these women are "firsts" as pilots, I'm willing to bet that they are far from equals with their male counterparts. However, progress is made one step at a time, and this is certainly a good first step.

What will be really interesting is when this first crop of female pilots advance to become captains, and have male first officers serve under their command.

What will be really interesting is when this first crop of female pilots advance to become captains, and have male first officers serve under their command.

According to the Korea Times article (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/117_33867.html) Saturday November 15 will be their maiden flights as Captains (pilots as compared to co-pilots).

I want to echo finlandia's post. One of the ironies about Korea is how, for all of its advances in technology and competitiveness in the contemporary world market, it is still a century behind with respect to how women are treated.

While these women are "firsts" as pilots, I'm willing to bet that they are far from equals with their male counterparts. However, progress is made one step at a time, and this is certainly a good first step.

And given the military-style subordination that has been the root of many of KE's crashes throughout history, this is a pretty bold move.

CI had similar problems but they started hiring foreign (co)pilots to actually call out the pilot when something was very wrong.