Peter Stickney wrote:

The sex of the pilot makes no difference.

Only to those who think it does, and unfortunately, there are still plenty of
those people around.

Ever notice, in some news reports of incidents or accidents, that when it's a
male pilot, they talk about him simply as "the pilot"; when it's a woman, they
are compelled to say, "the female pilot", as if that changes the story? One
sentiment in this thread sort of explains why this topic even exists -- a
sentence that began with: "We've *allowed* them [women] to ..." drive cars,
vote, etc., etc., etc. Perhaps tongue-in-cheek, but nevertheness, it is still
very much a prevailing attitude, even in today's supposedly enlightened times.

Example: Man tells woman, "Listen to what your airplane is telling you." Woman
later says, "I'm not flying this airplane, it is SHOUTING maintenance issues
loud and clear." Man replies: "Nice that you're so connected with the airplane
that you hear it talking, but it's JUST a machine!" Second example: Woman flies
an airplane and squawks unresponsive nosewheel steering. She is told it is
"within normal range." Man flies same airplane next, comes back and squawks
unresponsive nosewheel steering. The plane is then grounded and the nosewheel
steering is replaced. Third example: Woman flies airplane and describes
excessively uneven fuel burn between left and right fuel tanks--response from
male airplane owner: "Just fly with the other wing lower."

There are still many in aviation who don't take women seriously, and when an
incident or accident occurs involving a woman, are quick to draw unfounded
conclusions that sex of the pilot was a factor. Too bad, with as far as other
things have evolved, *some* men's attitudes about women are still in the Dark
Ages.