The problem is that leftists are destroying our country and this is part of their shit.
I don’t see any women acknowledge themselves as such in the comments, so I thought I would chime in. I really don’t care about the terms airman, cockpit, etc., or think changing those terms will do much. However, words do matter to some extent. Even though the FAA now calls me a “Technician”, I still prefer and use the older term “Mechanic”, because I feel it has a long and storied history. I have to admit to feeling offended the first time I was referred to as a “Girl Mechanic”, causing me to ask my coworkers how they would feel being referred to as a “Boy Mechanic” when asked why I was put off. That short conversation with them was enough to make them think a bit. Sometimes just a quick comeback is enough for us to all put our differences aside and get back into the business of drilling holes in the sky.
Reading the comments is almost funny. In the scheme of things this isn’t a big deal. To some any change is just so very difficult. Isn’t it a good thing to wake up? Or is it better to stay asleep?
Squared …first … too many articles on ‘vaporware’ eAirplanes that exist only on a computer and now THIS …
The lack of the five year + effort to result in the Primary Aircraft category is MY #1 ire with the FAA. With SO little effort, they could have rejuvenated GA in a massive way. Instead, we get this non- productive crap!
I wish there was a way to remove any funding for such ridiculous efforts!
I don’t have a problem with the move to gender neutral terminology. I think it conveys an acknowledgment that society evolves and recognizes that some terms are perceived as disrespectful to a part of the aviation community.
I asked 6 women I know who are pilots or mechanics what they thought. It was 50/50, half did not care the other half thought it was about time. A small sample size, admittedly, but enough for me to be for the changes.
Nice!
It’s none of your business what others think about you…
Brain Smith the monitoring troll. Yeah, Brian, you’re the “fact-checker”–the hall monitor kid who, now as an adult, is getting even for not being noticed in middle school. Well, I notice you and what you are doing here from your faux perch condescending to the rest of us. And it is working–I noticed you!
No, you’ve missed what Bri is trying to do. He is only helping us! I for one think we are blessed to have such pans…I mean, enlightened (yes, that’s it-enlightened) cockpit-less men re-educating us.
I understand the ‘girl’ term does even sound weird to me in some instances. Even the term female mechanic sounds as bad as male mechanic.
When someone has to place a sex identifier in front of a noun used to describe someone, it isn’t good, unless it required to clearly identify an individual. Introducing someone as a female is virtue signaling if the person can clearly make the distinction for themselves.
If I’m standing in front of you and someone describes you as a female mechanic, I have to wonder if the guy or girl is insulting my intelligence. As if I can’t tell if someone is male or female (unless I really can’t) ?
I hope some of you saw the Social Flight webinar last Tuesday with the Schiff father and son. Until Barry explained it I didn’t know the origin of cockpit or why we spell hangar with an “a”. I think you can still download that episode.
" I think it conveys an acknowledgment that society evolves and recognizes that some terms are perceived as disrespectful to a part of the aviation community." And THAT’S THE PROBLEM–YOU think it disrespectful–when no slight is intended. The terms have served for a hundred years–but only after “someone” NOW finds it “disrespectful.”
The rebellion against the “woke” crowd–those who find problems with language where no disrespect was intended–IS THE PROBLEM.
Perhaps you can tell from the responses that “Woke” has run its course–people are not impressed by others that are so easily offended, or who wish to “virtue signal” that THEY are the “truly righteous”.
Perhaps the “problem” is the lack of nearly universal military service today. I’d love to see the “easily offended” in basic training camp–“That Drill Sergeant OFFENDED me!”
Most women in the cockpit/flight deck/front office/place where you steer the airplane…DON’T CARE if you call them an “Airman” or “AirWoman”–they prefer “Just call me Captain–I believe I’ve EARNED IT!”
“Perhaps you can tell from the responses that “Woke” has run its course–people are not impressed by others that are so easily offended, or who wish to “virtue signal” that THEY are the “truly righteous”.”
My goodness, the projection on this thread is off the charts.
The new slurs being used by the sensitives among us, ‘woke’ and ‘virtue signalling,’ are being employed at every opportunity it seems, even in response to thoughtful people like Mr. Gagliardi and many others on this thread. Beware, a fearful man is a desperate man, and the usual suspects don’t disappoint.
Ironically, wielding the term serves as virtue signalling in itself. By calling out virtue signalling, the speaker publicly claims the moral high ground, which is, in itself…
Virtue signalling.
Hey, that’s pretty ‘woke’, no? Say, can one be too ‘woke’? And how much ‘wokeness’ is enough? What if you’re sleeping and you dream only in a ‘wokeness’ state? Are you really asleep? Would you be in heaven or hell? 
The problem, as I see it, isn’t ‘wokeness’ or ‘virtue transmitting’ at all, it’s, for a large portion of society today and evidently some pilots here also, needing to fight a war. Simple as that. Fear of losing status, property, an argument, their job, their values - you name it, has got them against their imaginary wall and War, g-dammit, is their only solution. Yeah, really, they see themselves that powerless.
The reasons (FAA, politics, white grievance, BLM, looters, Dems, woke people, smart people, gubment, etc) are actually moot - we just need to stop fighting this stupid civil war, because it’s unwinnable.
In this framework of fighting a war, here are a few of the principles of mass indoctrination from my periodic work in military psychology of the ways of perpetuating a war that I feel are relevant today, and might shed some light on these fears by some of words and their interpreted meanings.
*Ostracize opposing voices thru defamation and ridicule -
*Stir emotions and ignore reason and logic -
*Drive every opponent into a corner. When they fight back with anything, act like a victim. -
*Label all media not supporting your efforts as false -
*Use propaganda and large events to keep people occupied and incited -
*Sharply divide all actors into only two camps, and associate morality only into yours -
*Eliminate nuance and always mix lies with facts to maintain imbalance -
*Be offended at everything. Never give the opponent any recognition of worth or value.
Nearly everyone I know is tired of this senseless war against anyone and everyone that triggers the fears and insecurities of sadly, so many people. I protested the Vietnam war, then ended up serving, and I’m protesting once again today but refusing to serve in this senseless war. We need to work toward peace, love and understanding, even if you find it funny.
Amazing, scrubbed again. I get it. Carry on boys and girls or however you care to identify yourselves.
The “Wokers” (or is that, “Wonkers”?) call those that believe that a new language needs to be created to avoid “offensive speech” where not was intended.
They seem to forget that the terms mentioned have served us well for over 100 years–nobody in 100 years has objected to being called an “Airman” or refused to take a seat in the “cockpit”–after all, NONE of these terms refer to gender–EXCEPT in the mind of the “perpetually offended.” These malcontents had to actually WORK to find a reason to complain about a non-issue. It is THIS attitude by “Wokers”–trying hard to find something to complain about is the problem–they expect everyone else to conform to THEIR suddenly discovered “misinformation”. As for most of us, we are happy to use the terms that have served for over 100 years, with no ill effects. Perhaps “Wokers” should ask themselves–"If this is offensive, why has this not been brought up in the last century?
And that is the problem–“Wokers” believe that EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD CONFORM TO THEIR NEWLY DISCOVERED BELIEFS. In that regard, they are heirs to Jonestown-like cults–that THEY are the “One and true new religion” (“woke”)–that their actions will lead to a better world (the giant spaceship hidden behind the Hale-Bopp comet)–right down to “drinking the kool-aid.” PARDON US IF WE DON’T BELIEVE AS YOU DO–if that’s your opinion, fine, but don’t try to force it on the rest of us.
Most of us believe in “Live and let live”–but counter-culture “Wokers” actually BELIEVE that “everyone else is wrong except us”–these are the same types of “true believers” that believed that leisure suits, paisley shirts, bowl haircuts, and platform shoes were the “wave of the future.” Seems pretty silly today.
It’s good to “wake up” and discover you were only having a nightmare–all the things that frightened you turned out not to be true.
No “fears and insecurities.” Read the comments–I don’t see anybody objecting to"feminine homo sapiens" in the “airplane-flying-place” (formerly known as the cockpit). NOT ONE.
The 60s are waiting for you. Suggest you get dressed in your leisure suit (with a paisley shirt), put on your platform shoes–get in your Yugo–go down to the “free store” on your way to the protest against those “Evil Capitalists” that are “trying to keep women barefoot and pregnant.” While you are at it, don’t ignore the women that actually SUCCEEDED in accomplishing what you say can’t be done–or those of us who actually HELPED them achieve their goals!
but why “drone”?
Thank you Russ, for what I consider to be a well-reasoned article. My opinion is that gender-neutral terminology makes sense and is not a big deal. Although the origin of ‘cockpit’ has nothing to do with male anatomy (or chickens), most people don’t know that, so ‘flight deck’ works for me.
What really strikes me is the torrent of criticism that followed. A cursory examination of the contributors’ names shows them to be 99.9% male. I am guessing plenty of women read the article. And when they were done eye-rolling at the comments, they likely didn’t want to waste their time in responding. I would have done the same.
One of my proudest moments as a pilot was taking the daughter of a friend on a ‘fam flight’. Three years later, she has SEL, MEL, IFR, CFI, working towards her goal of ATP. We need to make sure that all people are welcome to take this journey. I trust the certification process will ensure that only the worthy get there.