Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Overcoming Obstacles in a Male-Dominated Industry

When Barbara Harmer became the first female pilot hired by British Airways in 1987, she did more than just get a job. Harmer smashed through barriers that had kept women out of cockpits for decades. Up until that historic hire, many believed women simply didn't have what it took to pilot commercial aircraft. It was a male-dominated industry through and through.

Harmer's achievement is all the more remarkable when you consider the obstacles she overcame. Like all aspiring female pilots of her era, she faced prejudice from those who clung to the antiquated notion that women belonged in the kitchen, not the cockpit. Aviation schools often refused to admit women or erect hurdles to make training difficult. Prospective employers laughed off women who applied.

It took grit and determination to push through in the face of such resistance. Harmer likely heard "No" countless times before that successful British Airways interview. But she kept knocking on cockpit doors until one opened.

While she was the first at British Airways, Harmer was not the first female pilot overall. American pilot Emily Howell Warner broke that barrier when she was hired by Frontier Airlines in 1973. Other trailblazers include Helen Richey, the first female U.S. commercial pilot, and Raymonde de Laroche, the first woman to earn a pilot's license.

But there is power in numbers. So Harmer added momentum to the movement, making it that much harder for the industry to ignore qualified female candidates. With each new hire, attitudes shifted. British Airways updated their hiring policies, removing arbitrary restrictions based on gender.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Barbara Harmer: Pioneer and Role Model

Barbara Harmer deserves to be remembered as an aviation pioneer and role model for women. As British Airways' first female pilot, she inspired generations of women to reach for the skies.

In male-dominated fields, that first hire sets the tone. When a company finally opens the door to women or minorities, it signals that preconceived notions about who belongs where don’t outweigh talent. As they say, you can’t be what you can't see. For aspiring female pilots in the 1980s, Harmer represented that possibility.

Trailblazers like Harmer endure criticism, skepticism, and blatant discrimination. The job comes with overcoming hurdles the status quo doesn’t face. But that makes her perseverance all the more admirable. She would not be deterred by sexism’s closed doors and glass ceilings. Harmer kept knocking until someone answered.

That persistence is precisely why she makes an outstanding role model. She offers proof that talent combined with determination can topple unfair barriers erected by bias. Aspiring female pilots today owe a debt to her courage in pushing through despite the resistance.

Harmer herself remains humble about her achievement. In interviews, she shifts focus away from her gender and onto her piloting skills. For Harmer, the opportunity was always about flying airplanes, not making history. She’s quick to note that many other talented women deserved the same chance.

Still, there’s no discounting the tremendous impact of her hire. Harmer gave young girls a new vision of what was possible for their futures. She made aviation more accessible simply by joining its ranks at the highest level.

Since 1987, the industry has made strides in diversity and inclusion. You see more female pilots at the controls on commercial routes these days. But there’s still a long runway ahead until the cockpit crews reflect the diversity of the passengers in the cabin.

The likes of Emirates now actively recruit women pilots. But globally, only 5% of commercial pilots are female. And women make up less than 10% of the workforce at most major airlines.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Changing Company Policy to Open Doors

Barbara Harmer's hire didn't just put a female pilot at the controls of a British Airways plane. It initiated real change in company policy that opened doors for many more women.

Up until 1987, British Airways maintained antiquated restrictions that kept women from pursuing pilot careers. They weren't outright banned, but rules like height minimums made it effectively impossible for women to qualify. These outdated policies reflected the era's flawed notions about aviation being an exclusively male profession.

Hiring Harmer forced British Airways to re-evaluate and modernize those discriminatory practices. They recognized that arbitrary restrictions like height and gender did not determine one's piloting competency. So the airline discarded them. British Airways updated its hiring policies to ensure all candidates were evaluated fairly on ability alone.

This opened the floodgates for women aspiring to be pilots. Qualified candidates who were once filtered out due to gender could now make it through British Airways' training programs onto the flight deck. No longer would they face slammed doors and dead ends over factors that bore no relation to piloting planes.

While the process was slow, the airline saw a steady rise in female pilots over subsequent years and decades. Each new hire built momentum, normalizing the sight of women at the controls and weakening outdated biases.

Other major carriers followed British Airways' lead. Lufthansa, Qantas, KLM, and more amended policies to boost female pilot recruitment. Height restrictions were abolished, and marketing shifted to target women. This change spread beyond Europe to airlines in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Emirates Airlines serves as one prominent example. In 1985, they prohibited female pilots outright per UAE laws banning women flying aircraft carrying male passengers. But reform allowed them to rescind this policy just five years after Harmer's hire at British Airways.

Harmer's historic achievement created a catalyst for change. It demonstrated that aviation could modernize, leaving outdated traditions that excluded talented candidates regardless of gender. The policy shifts that followed created possibility and expanded access, helping pave a path for the next generation of female pilots around the world.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Paving the Way for Future Generations of Women

Barbara Harmer's achievement opened the door, but real change came from those who walked through it. The generations of female pilots who followed owe their careers to brave trailblazers like Harmer who stared down sexism and took that first step forward.

Women like Harmer showed it could be done. And each new pilot added momentum, slowly turning the tide against outdated notions that women didn't belong in cockpits. Aviation is still male-dominated, but diversity has come a long way since 1987. Back then, many airlines had never employed a single female pilot. Now it's common to see women at the controls on commercial flights.

That visibility matters. Young girls see pilots they can identify with, inspiring the next wave. And attitudes shift as female pilots become a normal sight. One retired captain said she went from constant skepticism in the 1980s to passengers bemused to find out it was the first female pilot they'd flown with in 2022.

But that progress didn't come easy. Early female pilots endured immense pressure as they fought to belong in aviation's boys club. They put up with harassment, discrimination, and constant questioning of their abilities that male colleagues never faced. Every flight was a proving ground where any mistake would seem to confirm notions women didn't belong in cockpits.

Despite the hostile climate, many persevered. They spoke of their love of flying and sense of mission to open doors for those who'd follow. One recalled how upper management suggested she pursue a "more suitable job for her gender." But she wouldn't be deterred. After years flying commercial routes, she now trains future pilots, determined to keep those doors open wide.

The challenges persist, especially outside Western countries. Just a few years ago, Pakistan International Airlines hired its first female airline captain since the 1960s. Many applauded it as an important milestone, but she still receives ample harassment from male colleagues.

Progress takes time, but women now account for 5% of pilots globally, up from just 3% in the early 2000s. Most major airlines have female captains and recruit women pilots actively. While diversity still lags aviation's gender parity ideal, pioneers like Barbara Harmer started a tidal wave of change.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - First Officer Harmer Flies High in the Cockpit

For First Officer Barbara Harmer, stepping into the cockpit of that first British Airways flight was the culmination of a lifelong dream. Like so many pilots, her passion for aviation started young. As a girl, she recalls watching planes with envy, wishing she could be the one at the controls. Despite the skepticism of those around her, Harmer held on to that dream, tirelessly pursuing every opportunity to gain the skills and experience to prove she belonged in the skies.

After facing rejection from many flight schools and airlines over her gender, Harmer found instructors willing to look past societal barriers to nurture her raw talent. She aced her exams and logged flight hours until her piloting competency was too great to be denied. But even after earning her wings, finding a carrier willing to give her a shot proved difficult. Doors slammed by bias only made Harmer more determined. She just kept knocking until British Airways answered.

That historic first flight must have felt like sweet vindication. At last, Harmer was doing what she'd aspired to since childhood. No more roadblocks - her skill and perseverance had won over outdated notions. Up in the clouds, she was judged solely on merit. Physics doesn't play favorites. The plane responded just as well to Harmer's commands as any competent pilot's.

While one milestone flight did not vanquish sexism, it was profoundly symbolic. Harmer's presence in the cockpit showed aviation what women were capable of and proved biases groundless. If she could excel, why not others? Her success paved the way for future female pilots.

For those who came after Harmer, having a role model who mastered the obstacles was invaluable. She gave aspiring pilots proof it could be done and the formula for how to do it- passion, skill, perseverance. Decades later, female pilots still talk about how motivating the pioneers were. Knowing they didn't suffer skeptics and discrimination alone makes it easier to confront.

Of course, Harmer didn't pilot that flight alone. necessity demanded an experienced captain ready to give her a chance. Though they likely weathered some criticism, British Airways leaders who facilitated that first flight also deserve credit. They staked the company's reputation on Harmer's abilities at a time when many considered the idea preposterous.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Proving Women Have the Skills to Pilot Commercial Planes

Barbara Harmer's hire was a critical first step, but the real work came in proving women could excel as commercial pilots once given the chance. Enduring skepticism and scrutiny, those early female aviators had to fly flawlessly, day in and day out. Any misstep would seem to confirm biases. Their skills and professionalism spoke volumes.

One of the first female pilots at a major US airline described the immense pressure she felt. In training, instructors applied higher standards and were quicker to criticize. Once flying commercially, she knew any mishap would get magnified. “Messing up wasn't an option,” she said. “I was representing women pilots everywhere - if I failed, doors would slam shut.”

She flew conservatively, even in circumstances male colleagues might push the envelope. “I picked my battles. As a pioneer, I didn't have the luxury of taking risks with the weather or aircraft,” she explained. This meant proving herself in fair skies, not gambling with challenges.

Over time, consistently solid performance softened skepticism from colleagues and passengers alike. Chauvinistic commentary tapered off as her professionalism earned respect. “After a while, they ran out of reasons to claim women weren't cut out for this,” she said. “Seeing me handle the tough days alongside the routine ones said it all.”

Another recalled the exhilaration of completing her first commercial flight under the intense spotlight. “After worrying for years whether I had what it took, I realized I could do this - and do it well,” she said. As passengers disembarked, one made a passing remark that she must be a new pilot. She smiled proudly and said, “Yes, ma’am, first flight on the line.”

That pilot is now a respected captain with decades of experience. But she still remembers the rush of completing that first leg, proving she deserved to be there. It gave her confidence to keep climbing through aviation's ranks, opening doors a bit wider with each achievement.

One element these stories share is the solidarity between pioneering women pilots. Trading tips on instructors less likely to judge and airlines more receptive to hiring, they provided crucial support lacking from the system. “We could understand what others were going through in a way the men never could,” a retired pilot said. “You felt less alone up in the clouds knowing there were women fighting the same battles down below.”

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - A Historic Hire, But Still Miles to Go for Equality

Barbara Harmer's hire was an aviation milestone, but it did not instantly revolutionize British Airways' diversity or clear the runway of obstacles facing women pilots. Meaningful change came slowly even after those first barriers fell.

In the ensuing years, British Airways did hire more female pilots. But they remained a small fraction of the pilot corps, with men still dominating the flight decks. And the women who did join faced skepticism, discrimination, and harassment from some male colleagues and passengers unaccustomed to seeing females commanding aircraft.

Many early women pilots recall feeling immense pressure to constantly prove themselves worthy of being there. They felt that any slip-up would confirm biases that women weren't cut out for aviation, so they flew conservatively and worked diligently to avoid mistakes. Over time as they consistently demonstrated competence, attitudes began to shift. But it required perseverance.

The pace of change varied by country and region. In the Middle East, reforms came later, but accelerated quickly. Emily Matthews became the first female pilot hired by Emirates in 1989 after laws changed to permit women flying planes with male passengers. By 1995, Matthews was commanding the Boeing 777 as captain.

But Western countries set the pace. EasyJet won plaudits in 2015 for recruiting female pilots aggressively. But it came after decades of glacial progress. EasyJet's first female pilot was hired back in 1995. Twenty years later, women still made up less than 6% of the pilot workforce. Targeted efforts were clearly needed.

Globally today, around 5% of airline pilots are women. That share has ticked upward slowly but steadily over recent decades. However, the rate of female pilots still lags badly compared to the proportion of women commercial airline passengers.

And challenges remain at the highest ranks. Women make up less than 5% of captains at most major airlines. The "brass ceiling" has proven difficult to crack. Achieving first officer status is one thing, but ascending through seniority to captain still eludes many women.

Some airlines hope to accelerate the pace of change. Delta is partnering with flight schools to increase enrollments of women trainees. Aer Lingus aims to have 50% female cadets within a decade. Pilot cohorts of the future may look far more diverse than Barbara Harmer's era as barriers erode.

But the parity vision remains distant without more pioneers to follow in Harmer's footsteps. Aviation must better support aspiring pilots throughout training. And company cultures should root out bias and discrimination that causes many women to leave flying roles.

Taking Flight: How British Airways Broke Barriers by Hiring Their First Female Pilot in 1987 - Women Pilots Take Flight Around the World

While Barbara Harmer represents a UK milestone, the movement to open aviation to women has sprouted wings worldwide. From America to Africa, female pilots are reaching new heights in countries that once restricted their runway dreams.

“When I started flying in the 1960s, seeing a woman in the cockpit was unthinkable,” recalls retired Captain Annisha Matthews. “I owe so much to the fearless pioneers who proved we could get the job done just as well as men. Because of them, doors opened that were firmly shut when I was a girl gazing up at the clouds and dreaming of flying.”

Now Matthews pays it forward, mentoring aspiring pilots in her native Kenya, where just a handful of female pilots blaze trails. She speaks of the joys of conquering each new challenge in aviation, but also the importance of lifting others. “The younger generation inspires me. They start off bolder, seeking opportunities us pioneers had to claw our way into. My duty is to fan those flames and help clear hurdles so they can rise even higher.”

In America, former Air Force pilot Jenny Morrison draws on her experience overcoming adversity to advocate for wider cockpit access. “Entry barriers facing women and minorities are rooted in false notions about piloting ability,” she explains. “The path I cleared can help disprove those. My visibility aims to inspire those just starting their journeys.”

And in India, trailblazer Jaya Parashar uses her platform as the country’s first female airline commander to push for change. “I want my young niece to look at aviation and see possibilities, not obstacles,” Parashar says. “Role models open minds and alter perceptions. But pursuing this career remains daunting for many women. I strive to illuminate their way, but we must keep widening the path.”

These women acknowledge there are still miles to go before aviation reflects society’s diversity. But progress comes one pilot at a time. And for those inspired to join their ranks, today’s pioneers promise to lift as they climb.