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Poll Reveals British Boys Want to Become Pilots

** Sun 'n Fun 2012 photo by Jim Koepnick**
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A British Airways poll of 650 UK children (ages 6-12) found that pilot remains a top career aspiration for boys, ranking second after football players.
  • The research indicated gender bias, with boys favoring careers like football players and pilots (especially in London/Wales), while girls preferred roles such as teachers, veterinarians, and medical professionals.
  • British Airways is screening Disney's "Planes" on flights, a move that may further inspire young passengers towards aviation careers.
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A British Airways poll conducted last month shows that at least British kids still aspire to fly. The independent research involved 650 U.K. youngsters from ages six to 12. Most boys chose careers as football (soccer) players, followed by pilots and then “superheroes.” (Nice to know pilots came out ahead of caped crusaders.)

Girls favored the lifestyles of teachers, veterinarians and medical professionals, so gender bias is alive and well, at least in the U.K. Among boys, the choices were also biased by region, with London- and Welsh-based tykes leaning toward flying careers, while those in Northern Ireland favored superhero status.

Mark Phelps

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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