LATAM Airlines Brasil has launched an exclusive selection process for hiring female pilots. The company is looking to promote gender equity, focusing on diversity and inclusion, and expects to fill at least 50 vacancies by December 2023/
Attracting more female pilots
It is no secret that becoming a pilot has historically been a profession more linked to men globally, a remnant of the Second World War in most countries. According to a study, as of July 2020, women accounted for just 5.25% of all airline pilots and 1.42% of airline captains. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts expected this number to drop even lower after furloughs and bankruptcies. However, are looking to shift this trend, inviting more women to join their ranks.
On Monday, LATAM Brasil announced it had opened an exclusive selection process for women to fill the Airbus A320 family first officer position. Candidates may apply for the selection process until March 17 on the company’s website. LATAM intends to fill at least 50 vacancies by December 2023. Harley Meneses, LATAM Brasl's Operations Director, said,
“We are committed to the growth of aviation in Brazil. In this agenda, hiring and promoting women is a priority in our company. We will invest about 200,000 reais ($38,000) in technical training for each pilot we promote. In 2022 alone, we invested 110 million reais ($21 million) in initial and periodic training for our entire technical crew in Brazil to ensure the safety and efficiency of our flights.”
What do you need to become a LATAM co-pilot?
The Brazilian airline has a fleet composed of 136 aircraft. It is the largest carrier of the LATAM Airlines Group. According to ch-aviation, it operates 20 Airbus A319-100s, 60 A320-200s, ten A320neos, and 31 A321-200s in its narrowbody segment, which would be where the new female pilots will begin as first officers. Additionally, LATAM Brasil has four Boeing 767-300s, ten B777-300s, and one B787 Dreamliner 9.
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To become a LATAM co-pilot, one must have at least 500 flight hours; a college degree; a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate; be fluent in English with a minimum ICAO level 4; a Certificate of Theoretical Knowledge for Airline Pilots; qualifications as a commercial pilot, multi-engine, and Instrument Flight Rules; a valid passport; and availability to work at all LATAM crew bases.
LATAM said that after applying for a job, the candidates will undergo screening processes, tests, examinations, and interviews. The final approval is expected by December 2023.
How to attract more female professionals to the industry?
Attracting more women to become pilots is a must for airlines globally. If not enough women are hired, the sector could face struggles in the future (we know the pilot shortage is a reality in many places globally).
One way to attract more women to join the cockpits would be to increase female pilot visibility. “Having inspiring role models is an essential part of life because it can be hard to imagine ‘doing something’ or ‘being someone when you have never seen what it looks like,” said the International Society of Women Airline Pilots on its website.
In Latin America, many airlines are addressing this issue. Last week, JetSMART held a series of conferences. The objective was to make female talent visible and promote women's career development within the company. Volaris, the Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier, has implemented various policies which have allowed it to have, on average, a female captain for every two aircraft.
What do you think about this initiative launched by LATAM Brasil? Let us know in the comments below.