The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the world’s largest airline pilot union, has urged pilots to do away with terms like “cockpit” and adopt gender-inclusive language in their professional vocabulary.
The call to action is part of a broader initiative to foster a more inclusive environment for women and LGBTQ individuals in the aviation industry.
ALPA, which represents more than 70,000 pilots globally, has suggested that terms like “cockpit” be replaced with more inclusive alternatives. The term “has been and may be used in a derogatory way to exclude women in the piloting profession,” the guide states.
“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 says.
The recommendation comes from the union’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language guide. The guide lists various terms and phrases to avoid, particularly those that are considered “masculine generalizations.”
One of the key recommendations in the guide is to replace the term “manpower” with “people power” or “human power.” For example, instead of asking, “Who will provide the manpower to support this event?” the guide suggests saying, “Who will provide the people power to support this event?”
The guide also advises against using gender-specific terms like “guys” when addressing groups. ALPA points out that such terms are not inclusive of women, transgender individuals, and people with different gender identities.
In addtion, the guide recommends avoiding terms like “mother” and “father,” which could alienate various family structures, including grandparents as caregivers and same-sex parents. Instead, more inclusive language should be used to acknowledge diverse family dynamics.
“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 states. “The purpose of this language guide is to offer examples of terms and phrases that promote inclusion and equity.”
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