Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says government is committed to promoting gender equality in the aviation industry. She was delivering the opening address at the three day Global Aviation Gender Summit in Cape Town.
The summit is hosted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Chikunga says now is the time to fully address the gender inequality within the aviation industry.
“For once we have a woman Secretary General. We have a woman Chair at SACAA. Because they are women, they see what is happening. For instance, in South Africa. Let’s take pilots, the percentages of ratios are that 90% will generally be men and only 10% will be women. It can’t continue like that.”
Gender equity in the aviation industry is under the spotlight at the first ever Global Aviation Gender Summit, being held in Cape Town from Wednesday.
International Civil Aviation Organization and top leaders of the aviation industry are attending the three day summit.
Director of the South African Civil Aviation Authority Poppy Khoza says it is worrying that the industry is still dominated by men, not only in South Africa but globally.
“We are going to look at what are the barriers, why’s it so difficult for young girls to aspire to a career in aviation. We believe that having such conversations not in isolation as South Africa, but having co-ordination with UN agencies, member states and the entire industry to come up with solutions to break these barriers; clearly the playing field is not leveled”.
While some women have made significant strides in the aviation space in South Africa, access and exposure for young women remains a challenge.
The Civil Aviation Authority says transformation is slow with males still dominating the industry.
