UK regional airline Loganair is marking International Women\u2019s Day (IWD) 2026 by celebrating the career of its chief pilot, Amelia Findlater, whose journey from manufacturing engineer to aviation leader highlights the opportunities available to women in the industry.<\/p>\n
Women account for around 15% of Loganair\u2019s pilots, a figure that stands in contrast to the global aviation sector where fewer than 5% of commercial airline pilots are women.<\/p>\n
Against this backdrop, Findlater\u2019s rise to head of the airline\u2019s technical flight operations underscores both the progress being made and the untapped potential within the profession.<\/p>\n
Findlater said: \u201cTo me, this year\u2019s theme of \u2018Give to Gain\u2019 is an opportunity to show other women that there is a path into flying as a career, and that they can progress from First Officer through to Commander, Trainer, to Chief Pilot just like I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t necessarily a barrier to women flying, but we need the belief that we can do it and see ourselves doing it. It\u2019s about empowering others with the information and being visible to other women to show that they can succeed. When people feel supported, represented and valued, they perform at their best, and that benefits everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before entering aviation, Findlater studied manufacturing engineering and management at the University of Strathclyde and worked in production and operations management. A conversation with a friend who had secured a role at British Airways ultimately prompted her career change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had always loved flying. I was an air cadet when I was younger and had started working towards my private pilot\u2019s licence. But I didn\u2019t see the path clearly to commercial aviation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn old friend had secured a job at British Airways (BA), and it gave me the inspiration I needed. I quit my job and started an integrated course at Oxford Aviation. I never looked back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Loganair became Findlater\u2019s first employer after flight school. She says the airline\u2019s operational environment \u2013 characterised by short-haul flying, remote destinations and demanding weather conditions \u2013 quickly proved appealing.<\/p>\n
More importantly, she credits the airline\u2019s culture for helping to shape her career progression.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the outset, it was clear Loganair always prioritised who was best for the job. There were female commanders, trainers and examiners, giving visibility into a path of progression within the company. Without trying, they made it clear that they prioritise based on skill, potential and capability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Findlater later became a trainer on both the Saab 340 and ATR 42\/72 aircraft before being appointed chief pilot. In the role, she plays a central part in overseeing flight operations and supporting the airline\u2019s safety culture. She is also a mother of two children under five.<\/p>\n
She is part of a senior leadership team that includes several women in key roles, including Natalie Bush, chief operations officer; Rebecca Borresen, director of safety and sustainability; Samantha Clark, director of operations; Lyn McDonald, director of marketing, communications and product; and Beth Mackay, director of strategic projects.<\/p>\n
The airline has recently received recognition for its operational performance. According to analysis by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Loganair was the most punctual major airline for UK arrivals and departures between January and September 2025, with 81% of flights arriving and departing on time \u2014 above the industry average of 72%.<\/p>\n
In addition, consumer organisation Which? ranked Loganair<\/a> first for on-time performance among short-haul airlines earlier this year.<\/p>\n For Findlater, the IWD theme \u2018Give to Gain\u2019 reflects the importance of investing in people across the aviation industry.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen pilots feel supported and have access to mentoring, they build confidence, competence, and sound judgement \u2013 all of which enhance safety and teamwork,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cDevelopment isn\u2019t just about technical skills; it\u2019s also about the soft skills. I\u2019ve seen this first-hand at Loganair, where a strong culture of support and knowledge-sharing contributes to both high standards and a positive working environment.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel a strong responsibility to be visible and approachable, and to encourage diversity and inclusion. Representation matters, and by supporting and mentoring others, we can help create an environment where everyone feels they belong and can see a future in aviation. I want to ensure that talent and potential are recognised, regardless of background.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE AVIATION INDUSTRY PEOPLE & WORKPLACES NEWS HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The post On IWD, Loganair\u2019s chief pilot champions visibility for women in aviation<\/a> appeared first on Aviation Business News<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UK regional airline Loganair is marking International Women\u2019s Day (IWD) 2026 by celebrating the career of its chief pilot, Amelia Findlater, whose journey from manufacturing engineer to aviation leader highlights the opportunities available to women in the industry. Women account for around 15% of Loganair\u2019s pilots, a figure that stands in contrast to the global […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1789\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}