Transgender pilot

Waterhouse has experienced more than one flight training instructor over the years who has made racist, misogynistic, or homophobic comments in front of students. There are no role models, or there are very few role models. Feeling like there is nobody like you.

Providing what the FAA wanted would have forced her to undergo days of examinations, including personality, projective, and intelligence tests. She also joins Pride Crew, a resource group for LGBTQ+ employees and allies at Alaska. She was able to build hours and pick up more training, get additional ratings, and her instructor certificate.

Who is Jo Ellis

The news left Waterhouse feeling devastated. Nonetheless, many aviation companies and universities are trying to improve mutual understanding through internal Employee Resource Groups ERGs. Two U. Together, they waged a three-year battle to change FAA medical evaluation policies for transgender pilots.

Troubled and confused, she reached out to the FAA for help. Joining a flying club, Waterhouse found valuable instruction and support for her aviation goals. The new guidelines eliminated unnecessary psychological testing. Good luck, bye. Instead, the FAA said Waterhouse could not receive her medical until she submitted a report from her doctor and underwent extensive, burdensome, and expensive psychological and psychiatric testing.

Getting her medical not only allowed Waterhouse to progress with her flight training, it also opened doors to an entire aviation career.

Who is Jo Ellis

Advocates say increased cultural visibility has led to significant improvements in recent years resulting in learning, conversations, and greater acceptance. You feel very intimately connected to the air. Acceptance of transgender pilots is improving in the aviation community but advocates say more progress is needed across visibility, communication, and understanding.

By the time she was in pilot school, Waterhouse says she realized that she had to transition to female to be herself. The requirements ended up grounding many transgender pilots and some even lost their jobs, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Jessica, a transgender pilot at Alaska Airlines, shares her story of breaking barriers and changing FAA guidelines for trans aviators. A transgender soldier has spoken out after being incorrectly named as one of the Black Hawk helicopter pilots who died in the collision with an American Airlines plane in Washington D.C on Wednesday.

The hurdles began a few years later as she was a pilot closing in on getting her Transgender in California. Navigating life as a transgender pilot includes multiple challenges, including feelings of isolation. ERGs can serve as company sounding boards to assist with potentially challenging human resource issues or to advise on best practices for inclusive language in corporate rule books, handbooks, and employee publications.

Meanwhile, frustrated and optimistic, she kept plugging away gradually at flight training—including practicing for her instrument rating—not knowing whether she would ever even be allowed the opportunity for a check ride.

The NGPA offers an online porta l where members of the aviation community can report incidents of transphobia. They also work to educate companies throughout the industry on how to recognize relevant issues and improve their internal culture for transgender pilots.

Finally, in victory. Under certain conditions, transgender pilots are required to submit current clinical records, along with an evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist, and a report on any recent surgery.