Ask Captain Lim

Dear Captain,

I have read through your web site. It is full of great information that has helped many people out there. It was very kind of you to answer all those questions posted. I am currently in my final year of studies as an chemical engineering student. I am very confused as to whether to become a pilot or stewardess as my career. Its partly because I am not very sure about being a flight stewardess as a long term career.

I am eager to know what do flight stewardess end up to when they are no longer as young as they are when they first join an airline? I mean I can't be forever young. Does that mean that at certain age I got to called it quit?

As for being a pilot, also my ambition, I am not sure if Singapore Airlines (SIA) would want to recruit ladies as pilots. Do ladies get tougher time at the interview?

Hope you can answer my questions. I have let go a few datelines to join SIA due to this uncertainty.

Thank you for your answers in advance. Warmest regards,

Kong S.L

Hi Siew Ling,

I am not sure if Singapore Airlines is recruiting woman pilots, but my guess is that, unlike Cathay Pacific Airways, they are not. I cannot confirm this. If you want to be positive, please contact them. However, not all is lost if the answer is negative. I believe, in the general aviation, they do welcome woman pilots.

The career as a Flight Attendant (flight stewardess) may appear glamorous at first sight but I know it can be hard work sometimes after the novelty of travel is gone. The turnover of this job is quite high and most leave to get settled down when they have found their prospective partners. Furthermore, they don't enjoy long term life career (when they are no longer young) and may have to look for a ground job in the same airline provided there are vacancies for them. In that respect, a pilot career is more suitable because a pilot can continue to fly until 60 years old in Singapore, not to mention that this job gives them a better reward in terms of salary.

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