Flight training provider CAE has named the latest honoree in its Women in Flight Ambassador program, which aims to draw more women into aviation by raising awareness about opportunities in the industry.
At the Farnborough Airshow on Tuesday, CAE announced that Elle Betchley is the 15th woman to earn the title.
Betchley also participates in CAE's Generation EasyJet pilot training program, which the company launched exclusively for the British budget airline. As an ambassador, Betchley will receive a scholarship worth more than €100,000 to complete her training.
CAE intends to train up to 200 EasyJet pilots a year through 2028. Its 2023 aviation talent forecast shows that the industry needs some 300,000 new pilots by 2032.
In becoming the 2024 Women in Flight Ambassador, Betchley succeeded in passing a rigorous process that requires written tests, video interviews, multi-layered applications, and screening by the airline.
"Women make up only between 4 and 6 percent of professional pilots worldwide," said Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE's vice president of strategy, performance, and marketing. "We want to help attract more women to join the profession. Through shining role models like Elle, we believe we can truly influence the next generation."
Betchley initially trained as an agronomist and pursued agriculture as a career for the past seven years. In choosing to become a pilot, she took inspiration from her husband, who was also an EasyJet CAE pilot trainee.
"I wanted to become a CAE Women in Flight ambassador from the day I applied for pilot training at CAE. This is not just about inspiring women; it's about changing how people think," Betchley said.