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"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Female Pilots and Humor

Two Stories... 
Which one is true?


In the Restroom: 

As one of relatively few female airline pilots, I've often been mistaken for a flight attendant, ticket agent or even a snack-bar employee. Occasionally people will see me in uniform and ask if I'm a "real" pilot. Still others congratulate me for making it in a male-dominated field.

One day, I was in the restroom before a flight. I was at the sink, brushing my teeth, when a woman walked through the door and looked over at me. "My sister would be so proud of you!" she remarked. I figured her sister must be in the airline business, so I smiled and asked why.

The woman replied, "She's a dentist."

 

Helping with bags:


In uniform, while waiting in the baggage claim for my luggage to come down the chute, I saw an elderly couple struggling with their luggage. I went over and helped them lift their bags onto a cart. The man tried to give me a dollar. This was not the first time I was confused with a baggage porter.

(Remember those days when guys in hats helped with your baggage?)

I politely said, "No thank you. I'm actually an airline pilot. I help with bags for free." 

Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene 

4 comments:

  1. I'm pretty sure I was taken for a cabin cleaner the other day by some passengers deplaning. Not that there's anything wrong with being a cabin cleaner - they work hard at a necessary job, but it's funny that people can't see the truth through all of their assumptions about gender.

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    Replies
    1. Isn't that the truth! And the most intelligent cabin cleaner you are too! Funny.

      Delete
  2. A mere private pilot here...when I stopped for lunch a York Airport a few years ago, and was walking toward the terminal, a guy took me for a line service person & asked me to put fuel in his airplane.

    It's not *always* about gender, ethnicity, etc

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    Replies
    1. I love it. And, so very true. This identity issue is not a gender issue. You'll have to read Flight to Success and enjoy the story where there guy mistook the customer as his flight instructor.

      Delete

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