Aunt Mary doesn't think it's an easy career for women with children.
Script
Mary: So do you know what you want to do when you leave school yet?
Sophie: Erm, yes, there is something I really really want to do, but I'm not sure if I can.
Mary: Oh? What's that?
Sophie: I want to do your job.
Mary: Ah! Right. Well, why not? It's a great job. And we need more women in the profession. There aren't many female pilots. Did you know that only 5% of airline pilots are women?
Sophie: That's terrible. Why is that?
Mary: I'm not sure. The training is long and very expensive, but it's the same for men and women. Maybe women think it's a man's job, so they don't apply for the training.
Sophie: If I wanted to be an airline pilot, would I find the training difficult?
Mary: No, I don't think so. In fact, I think you have the right qualities.
Sophie: Really?
Mary: Yes, you're healthy and you have excellent eyesight. You're intelligent, you're good at maths and science, and you get on well with people. If you got your university degree first, and then went to pilot school, you could be a great pilot.
Sophie: Do you enjoy your job?
Mary: I love it. I work long hours, but there are lots of good things about my job. For instance, I can travel anywhere in the world for free. There aren't many countries that I haven't visited!!
Sophie: I know – you're so lucky. But it's also a very responsible job.
Mary: Yes, it's true, but I like that. I need a challenge.
Sophie: What about your colleagues?
Mary: I work with some great people – we have a really good time together.
Sophie: Do you earn a lot?
Mary: I earn a good salary, but if I were captain, I would earn even more!
Sophie: Is it easy to become a captain and get a pay rise?
Mary: No, you need a lot of experience. I've only been doing this job for five years. I may become captain after another ten years.
Sophie: Ten years?
Mary: Yes. Think about it – if you went on a plane, you'd want the captain to have a lot of experience, wouldn't you?
Sophie: Yes, that's true! But it's such an exciting and glamorous job!
Mary: Well, sometimes, but the lifestyle is difficult – you spend a lot of time away from home.
Sophie: Yes, we don't see you very often. You couldn't come to my seventeenth birthday,
and you even missed last Christmas.
Mary: Yes, that's a problem. I can't always take time off when I want to. And if I had children, it would be almost impossible to do this job. I think that's the main reason why there aren't many female airline captains.
Sophie: You could have a house husband!
Mary: Okay, you find me a house husband, and I'll continue being an airline pilot!
