Just 8 per cent of licensed pilots in Australia are women

Western Australia's far north has long been a training ground for aspiring pilots, but women remain significantly under-represented in the industry.

The latest statistics from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority show women make up just 8 per cent of licensed pilots in Australia.

Female pilots working in the Kimberley say greater visibility, networking opportunities and clearer career pathways could help encourage more women to take to the skies.

Shoal Air senior Broome pilot Caroline Jamieson said she was increasingly seeing the positive impact of women entering the traditionally male-dominated field.

"A lot of passengers actually end up asking me, 'Can I get advice for my daughter who is interested [in flying], do you mind if I get your number so she can reach out to you?'" she said.

"I think it's because they see us in this industry working and believe it is something they can do."

'Waiting for the girls'

Ms Jamieson said traditional gender stereotypes still come to the surface despite a slow increase in women entering the industry and changing attitudes.

She said sometimes passengers had initially mistaken female pilots for flight attendants.

"I would love some more girlfriends in the industry, I definitely encourage more girls to get into it, I wouldn't say it's [the gender imbalance] a negative thing," she said.

Shoal Air senior Kununurra pilot Greta Taine said the camaraderie within the industry had helped create a positive working environment.

"I think everyone has a lot of mutual respect and we all band together. And being up here, it being so remote, you do have to look out for each other," she said.

Ms Taine said young girls should not let their gender deter them from pursuing a career in aviation, encouraging anyone with an inkling to give it go.

"Lucky enough I had a family member who was in aviation so I knew the lifestyle," she said.

"It has its challenges but it's really rewarding. I just don't ever think if it was for this job I would have come to the Kimberley."

Industry representation

Australian Women Pilots Association vice-president and helicopter pilot Hilary Wilkins said building professional networks could help address the imbalance.

"Seeing people doing those jobs — you get on a plane from Perth to Broome and your captain is a female, that definitely helps," she said.

In the Kimberley, aircraft almost serve as taxis, given the sheer size of the region, according to Ms Wilkins.

She said the remoteness gave newcomers vast opportunities to develop their skills.

"We do a lot of single-pilot operations. You have to make all the decisions on the day about where you're going, what you're doing, managing fuel, managing passengers," Ms Wilkins said.

"That stands people in good stead for when they potentially get into airlines and larger planes."

"But the other thing is in Broome, there's the opportunity to stay here and progress your career from small single-engine planes to twins, up to the bigger passenger aircraft."

The federal government rolled out the Women in the Aviation Industry Initiative (WAII) in 2019, committing $8 million in funding to help increase female participation and retention in Australia's aviation sector.

This involved targeted programs in career pathways and professional development.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts released a Strategic Action Plan in 2023, to map out the delivery of the WAII until 2026.