These Instagram-famous female pilots are crushing stereotypes

Aviation is still an industry that is dominated by men, but several women pilots are taking to Instagram in hopes of changing the stereotype.

According to Women of Aviation, in 1960, there was only one in 21,417 women that held an “other-than-student” pilot certificate. By 1980, the ratio significantly went down to one in 4,224. Though the aviation industry seemed to have made great strides in smashing the gender stereotype, the amount of women who were interested in becoming pilots began to diminish.

But several women pilots are looking to turn the tide, and they’re doing so through Instagram.

Female pilots find the social media platform to be an impactful place to share photos of their adventures. You can hop onto the app and find photos from the cockpit, of world travels and of the ladies striking poses in the bases of massive plane engines.

Following these female pilots on Instagram is undoubtedly interesting, but it’s about more than that. These women are active on the platform in order to send a message, and that message is an inspiring one. It’s their hope that by sharing these photos, other women will also become interested in pursuing a career in the aviation industry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUYl4qjjkzg/?taken-by=flywitheva

For example, pilot Eva Claire Marseille has over 60,000 Instagram followers. The 31-year-old is a Dutch pilot who usually is in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 taking off from Barcelona.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWLQh7DjdXa/?taken-by=flywitheva

And some of her photos are absolutely breathtaking.

https://www.instagram.com/p/8s-2mvqJoG/?taken-by=flywitheva

https://www.instagram.com/p/8-O9d8KJuU/?taken-by=flywitheva

Another inspiring female pilot is Eser Aksan Erdogan. Also 31, she’s a pilot for the Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines, and has over 75,000 followers on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVAGUorj5Co/?taken-by=echosierra85

She shares photos of her adventures traveling the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUeeLcwjcT3/?taken-by=echosierra85

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP403ephY2d/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVef2xIFADi/?taken-by=echosierra85

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZsK7hloCg/?taken-by=echosierra85

And then there’s Lindy Kats, who is also smashing stereotypes through her gorgeous Instagram photos. Kats is from the Netherlands, and is now based in Italy. She’s only 23 and her Instagram following is over 65,000.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV4seLblxJO/?taken-by=pilot_lindy

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVUn1M9FUzH/?taken-by=pilot_lindy

We don’t know about you, but these pictures kind of make me want to become a pilot!