Woman hopes to become one of few female airline pilots

There are lots of women working in the airline industry, from flight attendants to gate attendants. But finding a woman in the cockpit of a plane is a rare sight indeed.

Only 4,000 of the 130,000 airline pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. To have a chance to randomly meet a female pilot in the United States, you would have to meet 5,623 women.

But Meghan Callahan plans to one day become an airline pilot. Last week, the 23-yearold from Drexel Hill took her father up for a ride after passing flight school at New Garden Flying Field.

“I have all the confidence in her,” Meghan’s father, Michael said shortly before the flight. “I just hope she flies low enough so I can jump out if I need to. But I am very proud of her.”

Meghan Callahan earned her wings from Mitchell George, who said she is one of the few female students he has taught. Meghan, who began flying with the Civil Air Patrol at age 17, has more than 100 hours of air time already.

“I want to make a career out of it,” she said. “I know it will take a long time and I need a lot more school. Right now, I’m just hunkering down and saving money for it.”

Flying lessons are very expensive. It takes upward of $100,000 in training to become an airline pilot. And she can expect a starting salary of about $30,000 per year when she becomes certified.

“But she can move up very quickly once she gets her captain’s rating,” said Mary Kelly, office manager at New Garden Flying Field. “She can move up to six figures, but it takes time. But there are tons of jobs in aviation.”

Meghan said she flies at New Garden because the airport in her area is too close to Philadelphia International Airport.

FRAN MAYE — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Meghan Callahan prepares to take her father, Michael, up for a flight at New Garden Flying Field.