Pilot protests porn left on planes and backlash

A pilot for Air Canada is defending a colleague who complained about pornography left in flight decks and who was subsequently criticized online. She disputes comments from the airline that the images were mostly “inappropriate business cards” from Las Vegas, found mostly on one type of aircraft. The pilot counters, “you could encounter it once or twice every month” on all types of aircraft and that the images include “genitals and full nudity.”

The pilot told CBC most explicit photos were likely left as a joke for the next flight crew to find, but that a small minority of male pilots were leaving them there intentionally to send a message to females that they are not welcome.

Things got worse after complaints

After CBC posted the original story on its website there were several negative posts, suggesting the complainant was too sensitive to handle flying.

Documents indicate she found things got worse after she complained to management. Later a picture of a naked woman with a knife drawn in her back was found on another flight. This prompted the second pilot to speak out.

Air Canada warned pilots, to no avail

CBC reports that Air Canada began warning pilots as early as 2008 to not leave, post or hide sexually explicit material in flight decks, warning they could be fired or face criminal charges if caught doing so. The supporting pilot says more bulletins from Air Canada are not the answer.

She told CBC “I really think the solution lies in all of the good, professional, talented men at Air Canada and their leadership. That they want to show that their workplace is open to anybody. It’s kind of like the bully in school.  If the cool kid in school stands up against the bullying, then the bullying stops.”

While Canada officially promotes gender equality in the workplace, not everyone accepts it. There are also rules against harassment which employers have varying degrees of success enforcing.