Look, let me see if I can explain this in a simpler way: sure, I spent years flying with tons of awesome FOs who swore up and down I was their “favorite captain.” (Mostly bc I let them do whatever they wanted as long as it didn’t involve ppwk for me) But…

….but that came AFTER they flew with me. After they figured out I knew my way around that plane. Before they flew with me I was just another female who got the job bc I was a girl. Did they assume every new male capt they flew with was prob hired wo the experience? Hell no.

So that’s the part I want to see end. STOP assuming every female pilot got the job due to gender. START assuming they were hired bc they had competitive experience and hours and are damned good at what they do. The same assumption given to male pilots. That is all.

Oh, and one more thing: a huge shoutout to the thousands of my male colleagues out there who do NOT make those tired, old assumptions. Y’all are helping us change the profession. I see you!