webfact Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 RTAF welcomes its first five female pilots in 79 years’ historyBANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Air Force Monday welcomed five ladies who have passed the grueling tests to become the first female pilots in 79 years’ history of the RTAF.Personally extending his well wishes to the new pilots was Air Chief Marshal Tritos Sonjaeng, the air force commander-in-chief.The five are Flying Officer Kanchanok Chanyarak, former language teacher attached to the Air Force’s Education Department; Flying Officer Peerasri Chaipaisarn, former financial and welfare officer; Flying Pilot Chanakarn Sornjarn, a former officer attached to the education section of the Air Force Academy; Ms Sirithorn Lawansathien, an aviation graduate from Rangsit University and Bangkok Aviation Centre; and Ms Chonnisa Supawannapong, a humanities graduate Kasetsart University.ACM Tritos said that the admission of the first five female pilots marked an important change in the RTAF. This means that women are now as capable as men in military service and they should be proud of being part of the RTAF aviators.Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/167169-2/ -- Thai PBS 2016-06-14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thechook Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Quick course to be a pilot in Thailand, it was only 6 weeks ago they ran a story where they had been accepted and we're commencing training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 (edited) For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. Edited June 13, 2016 by NongKhaiKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzra Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Most likely to fly some light, single prop engines planes like Cessna 152's and Pipers cubs, not like they're going to fly a combat planes F16's any time soon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourAces Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. I wonder if its anything like the mental and physical sexual abuse grueling tests they put female recruits through in the Australian Military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Grumpy Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Good job. Now, can Thai women please start to replace all Thai male minivan, bus, train, car drivers please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Well done, ladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Partenavia Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I think you will find in due course that these ladies have only passed the basic tests to see if they are suitable candidates for Pilot Training. They will now start their pilot training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caps Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Well done. Its good to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caps Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. Passing Grueling Tests does not mean they have even been in an aircraft yet. It could mean passing the test to start being a pilot...could it not....give people some credit, at least until we know different Edited June 14, 2016 by Caps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtls2005 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Good news, seems like a long time coming, especially for non-combat ops. (which is pretty much all the Thai armed services have I guess, save gunning down fellow citizens of course). Hopefully their male comrades/superior officers treat them professionally and with respect. And if they make stupid jokes about them on LINE, at least use a pseudonym. Or plan on moving over to Nok Air. Edited June 14, 2016 by mtls2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 79 years, why so long ? Wonder what the history of female pilots might be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. Passing Grueling Tests does not mean they have even been in an aircraft yet. It could mean passing the test to start being a pilot...could it not....give people some credit, at least until we know different Post # 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radar501 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 The slogan in the background of the photo reads - 'One of The Best Air Forces in Asean' Huge claim, given that ASEAN consists all of ten nations, including the regional military 'powers' of Laos, Cambodia, Brunei and Myanmar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Good news, seems like a long time coming, especially for non-combat ops. (which is pretty much all the Thai armed services have I guess, save gunning down fellow citizens of course). Hopefully their male comrades/superior officers treat them professionally and with respect. And if they make stupid jokes about them on LINE, at least use a pseudonym. Or plan on moving over to Nok Air. The first part of your reaction is so stupid, I guess I will pass comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F4UCorsair Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Most likely to fly some light, single prop engines planes like Cessna 152's and Pipers cubs, not like they're going to fly a combat planes F16's any time soon.... You're a pilot in the RTF and know that? You know their aviation background, training and experience? If so, please share it so we can see why you've made that assessment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanukjim Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Hello "Mile High Club". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanukjim Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Most likely to fly some light, single prop engines planes like Cessna 152's and Pipers cubs, not like they're going to fly a combat planes F16's any time soon.... You're a pilot in the RTF and know that? You know their aviation background, training and experience? If so, please share it so we can see why you've made that assessment. There are some women pilots that are some of the best pilots in the world flying some very sophisticated planes .ezzra proberly has never got father then the "cheap" seats in the rear of a passenger plane..Hey F4U,Navy or Marine ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morakot Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) 79 years, why so long ? Wonder what the history of female pilots might be. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/03/early-women-aviators WOAW_allpilots.pdf Edited June 14, 2016 by Morakot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanukjim Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. I wonder if its anything like the mental and physical sexual abuse grueling tests they put female recruits through in the Australian Military. One can not compare one country's military training with another unless you have inside knowledge of each and not just stupid assumption based on opinion.Some of the military personnel here trained by US Marines and UK special Units are pretty damn good.any fault is in the command ,not the soldier or pilot. JW former JUSMAG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caps Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 79 years, why so long ? Wonder what the history of female pilots might be. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/03/early-women-aviators https://www.wai.org/resources/history.cfm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtls2005 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Tammy (Lamai) Duckworth, born in Bangkok to a Thai mother, was a Blackhawk (co-) pilot for the U.S. Army. By all accounts quite capable and brave. Not much you can do when you get hit with an RPG. Now a Congress-woman, running for the Senate. The U.S. had WASPs in 1943. Still small numbers in the U.S. armed services (by percentage) but a long history. On the commercial side slightly more, but still less than 10% I think. It seems like a lot of the Thai ATC controllers are female, at least that was my impression listening in Thai airspace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukkytuktuk Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 It's about time the role of women in the military was taken seriously. Well done Royal Thai Air force. A step in the right direction. Women growing up have new role models to aspire to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtls2005 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Nok Air had some interesting takes on females in aviation... (well, I think most of them are female) Edited June 14, 2016 by mtls2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETERTHEEATER Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I think you will find in due course that these ladies have only passed the basic tests to see if they are suitable candidates for Pilot Training. They will now start their pilot training. Yes, I think that is correct. None of them is displaying Aviator's Wings badges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie69 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Didn't a Bikinis airline commence operating recently, based in Vietnam in believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F4UCorsair Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Most likely to fly some light, single prop engines planes like Cessna 152's and Pipers cubs, not like they're going to fly a combat planes F16's any time soon.... You're a pilot in the RTF and know that? You know their aviation background, training and experience?If so, please share it so we can see why you've made that assessment. There are some women pilots that are some of the best pilots in the world flying some very sophisticated planes .ezzra proberly has never got father then the "cheap" seats in the rear of a passenger plane..Hey F4U,Navy or Marine ? Neither jim, I'm not American. I'm ex Australian Air Force and 25 years in airlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F4UCorsair Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) I think you will find in due course that these ladies have only passed the basic tests to see if they are suitable candidates for Pilot Training. They will now start their pilot training. I may be mistaken, recall not as good as it once was, but I think II recall reading on TV that they had qualified as private pilots, and then recruited by RTAF. May be wrong. Having even a private licence entitles one to wear a full wing insignia. Edited June 14, 2016 by F4UCorsair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPI Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 For everyone's sake I hope the ' grueling tests ' were exactly that and not anything like the educational system's grueling tests which everyone seems to pass with ease. i'm not suggesting these ladies may not be capable it's just the system here doesn't engender any confidence. I wonder if its anything like the mental and physical sexual abuse grueling tests they put female recruits through in the Australian Military. They were all just naughty boys having a good time! I don't know what you'd call the senior officers who forced their way with other female service women? The Australian Officer Corps hasn't had a decent officer either before or after General Sir John Monash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Suggestion are now open for renaming of the "Cockpit" once there are female pilots in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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