I live in San Antonio, aka "Military City". I used to be friends with some of the Air Force pilots, or their wives. We all played on a soccer team together, and after the games we would go out to eat.
Most of the men had their eyes set on a career flying for a large airline. My friend Dayna, would have stayed in the military as a career if they had allowed women to become fighter pilots.
One time Dayna took a few of us to an officers party, and we were allowed to see the area where the pilots spent their downtime. There were pictures of all of their squadrons, and as I checked out all the good looking pilots, it was extremely evident that 99% were white men. There were a couple of women. No POC, sorry to use the term. The issue isn't about discrimination, or bringing diversity, but black people, or women, aren't joining up in the Air Force or Navy.
Now, I know that you can become a pilot at a private school, and I am not bashing anyone who does that. But, and this is an important but to me, I feel that pilots and aviators who train in the military are much more likely to be prepared mentally for that "one moment" that counts when flying an airplane.
Dayna used to joke that flying now was basically no harder than driving a bus due to auto pilot,and other features. But, she said the reason pilots made the big salaries, (and had a cushy life of restricting how many hours could be flown during a month, tickets to anywhere for basically nothing, and many other perks) was for that "one moment".
A pilot trained by the military draws people who like order, following instructions, and sticking to a plan. They also endure many types of physical and mental stress environments, and tests, even 2 weeks spent as a POW, that help to create a toughness and poise while under pressure. They are ranked against fellow pilots, and it is an extremely competitive environment. To be hired by an airline, even things like cholesterol are taken in to consideration. It was funny when we would go out to eat, the guys would order salads, the girls hamburgers or tacos, and the waiters would always place the salads in front of the girls, and a musical plates routine would ensue.
My point is there is a way of thinking, a process that molds a military pilot or aviator that takes place over many years. It is something that, in my opinion, would be missing in a regular flight school. Flying safely isn't just about hours flying an airplane, it's about the mental mindset that must click in to gear instantly in an emergency.
Putting ads in magazines and newspapers or social media, begging for diverse people isn't going to cut it. They may fly capably, but they won't have that something special, in most cases, that military training brings to the table.
I sometimes watch a show called, "Air Disasters", the title explains the show!
What always amazes me, is in the moments, or even seconds that count, the pilots are problem solving until the moment of impact. The voice recorders of the event gives you in to a peek of those last moments, and I am always amazed at how calm and matter of fact the pilots are.( * this isn't watching death porn, it's mostly a CSI type show, and they always learn something that makes flying safer, it is freaky how one old and worn screw can bring down an aircraft)
That trait is something you are born with, and can be enhanced with the proper training. It can't come from an ad that brings in every day people looking for a job.
By the way, if you are ever flying American, and your pilot is a tall, unattractive woman named Dayna, you can ask her to fetch you a coffee pre-flight.
She is cool enough to think that is funny, and it happens all the time. And, out of all of the pilots I hung out with, I would trust Dayna the most to be ready for "that moment" 10/10 times over anyone else. It has nothing to do with her being a woman.
