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The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, with over 70,000 pilots globally, advises against non-inclusive terms like “cockpit” and “manpower,” promoting “flight deck” and “people/human power” instead.
The union’s guide emphasized inclusive language for solidarity and flight safety.
“Inclusive language in communications is essential to our union’s solidarity and collective strength and is an important factor in maintaining flight safety,” the guide reads. “The purpose of this language guide is to offer examples of terms and phrases that promote inclusion and equity.”
“Many women have heard a variation of ‘It is called a cockpit for a reason’ by a male pilot, suggesting that women do not belong in the piloting profession,” the guide adds.
Despite debates over terms’ origins like “cockpit,” diversity efforts in the airline industry have faced significant criticism.
“The circular pit was surrounded by a barrier to keep the gamecocks from escaping, with spectators” who watched the “bloody sport” linguist Ben Zimmer wrote in 2019.
“The confined space, the noise, the blood and the fetid air evidently reminded people of the original cockpits,” Zimmer wrote.
“Who will provide the people/human power to support this event?” the guide gave as an example.
United Airlines CEO’s commitment to increasing women and minority pilots sparked controversy, with Elon Musk and others questioning forced diversity initiatives.
“Diversity really has nothing to do with safe travel,” former Federal Aviation Administration safety team representative Kyle Bailey stated. “It’s basically all a matter of flight time, your credentials, your background, how much flight experience you have and also your training.”
“Regardless of what proposed hiring practices are put into place, the bottom line is … piloting is basically a male occupation. You don’t find little girls when they’re 10 years old saying, ‘Hey, I want to be an airline pilot’ or playing with little model airplanes or flying model airplanes. It’s pretty much a male game, like it or not,” Bailey said.
“This is messed up,” Elon Musk wrote on X.
“He can always set a good example and resign immediately, leaving his high-paid position, salary, bonuses and stock options to someone more diverse,” Center for Security Policy Senior Analyst J. Michael Waller said.
