International Women’s Day: The Private Jet Companies Driving Diversity In Business Aviation

It’s been nearly 90 years since American aviator Amelia Earhart vanished over the Pacific but the legacy she left behind continues to fly. The adventurer gained fame in the 1920s and 30s, when aviation was a predominantly male industry, and made history as the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic. Her various incredible feats inspired many women to follow in her flight path, but there is still a long way to go until the industry is equal. The International Society of Female Airline Pilots revealed recently that the number of female pilots stands at just over 5% of the total pilot group worldwide, for instance, while C-suite boards across the industry are still lacking in diversity. However, there are many women making strides to break glass ceilings and encouraging others to do the same.

On International Women’s Day, I look at some of the trailblazing women paving the way for women in private aviation, from captains and pilots to C-suite executives and business leaders.

VistaJet

With 6% of female pilots in its crew, private aviation company VistaJet stands above the industry average. But the cockpit is not the only place you’ll find women in the business. VistaJet’s female employees “are essential to every part of the journey,” I’m told, with women holding positions in all sectors from aircraft maintenance to commercial and sales.

Two of VistaJet’s most inspiring trailblazers are Léa Thiery, Captain on the Global 6000, who is also Vice President of the Women in Aviation International Riviera Chapter; and Emma Heering, Captain on the Challenger 605 and a Type Rating Examiner. Both captains are equally passionate about encouraging more women and girls to consider a career as a pilot.

Click here to find out what happened when I interviewed Léa Thiery about her experiences as a female captain in the male-dominated world of private aviation.

Planet Nine

When it comes to the percentage of female pilots employed by private jet companies, it’s hard to beat Planet Nine, whose crew boasts an impressive 11% of female pilots – a figure the company says is approximately three times more than the national average.

Claire Schindler, Global XRS/5000 Pilot Claire Schindler, is one such woman. Described as a “trailblazer” and an “active force” within the industry, Schindler was inspired to get into aviation from the young age of 16 by American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. “I am a strong believer in ‘if you can see her, you can be her,’ because I never considered being a pilot until my dad took me to see Amelia Earhart at the Air and Space Museum,” she says. “I’m still giddy going to work, so I am living the dream 10-year-old me wished for.”

The company has also recruited women for senior leadership roles, including Director of Sales Kirti Odedra, who has spent the last 12 years working her way up through the industry; and Director of Inflight Services Hilary Clark.

Aero

Uma Subramanian, CEO of semi-private aviation company Aero Technologies, is a force to be reckoned with. She boasts an impressive resume inked with stints at leading manufacturers including Airbus and Rolls-Royce, and forward-thinking programs such as the Mars Project. Now, as head of the young but promising company, she’s trying to pioneer a shift back to a time when flying was much more enjoyable, by offering flyers the experience of private jet travel at a fraction of the cost of a business charter. An impressive ambition from an equally impressive woman.

Click here to find out what happened when I spoke to Subramanian about the future of flight and the pros and cons being a female leader of colour in business aviation.

Flexjet

Marine Eugène, European Managing Director of Flexjet, has been at the helm of the aviation company in Europe since 2019 – and an aviation executive for 20 years. A powerful force in the business (she also spent several years driving change at aviation company NetJets) she’s said to have been instrumental in steering Flexjet’s growth outside of North America. She also leads sister company PrivateFly as a joint operation.

Click here to read our interview and discover more from Eugène on her career highlights, being a female leader, and driving diversity in aviation.

Victor

One area of business aviation in which women are increasingly present is marketing. Kate Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications at on-demand jet charter company Victor, is making her mark not only as a female leader but as a sustainability advocate. She is responsible for championing the company’s ground-breaking carbon emission reduction strategies through a multi-channel, international Marcomms strategy.

Click here to find out more about the pioneering work Thomas and the Victor team have been doing to drive the development and awareness of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

JetCraft

Another influential marketing expert is Lauren Kinelski, Vice President of Marketing at Jetcraft. For the last seven years, she has leads a global team of marketeers dedicated to building brand awareness, marketing aircraft inventory and building unique experiences for aircraft owners. While this is her first aviation role, she brings with her a strong background in luxury consumer brand communications.

Winch Design

While not a private jet company, a special mention must go to Winch Design which today announced the launch of the Women in Business Aviation network. The British design firm, which is behind many ground-breaking aircraft interiors, founded the initiative with the aim of celebrating inspiring women in the industry and encouraging the next generation of women to join the industry. It’s a similar endevour to Damen Yachting’s Women in Yachting network and members can look forward to in-person networking events at key forums around the world – the first will be held at EBAC2023 in Geneva in late May. The network has naturally been pioneered by female Winch leaders including marketing chief Lisa Stratton.