A female pilot is suing a private jet operator for sex discrimination, claiming she was fired because her legs were too short.
Shari Drerup, a corporate pilot with 14 years’ experience, claims an instructor on a flight simulator told her they weren’t long enough to operate the plane.
She was told to use a booster seat and platform shoes, but she declined due to potential safety issues.
The US-based pilot says she is qualified to fly two other NetJets aircraft but was not given the opportunity to do so.
In contrast, her lawsuit alleges two male pilots who were deemed too tall were transferred to other aircraft.
"From the moment that they determined that I was too short to fly this airplane, they should have helped me. They should have said we’ve got other aircraft in the fleet, you’re a good pilot, let’s put you in another airplane," she said.
"Picture showing up for the job you really thought you were going to have for the rest of your life and being treated like you don’t matter and just kind of tossed to the curb."
Attorney Gloria Allred said: "The men who were too tall to fly the Phenom were reassigned to be able to fly other aircraft. She was not afforded that opportunity."
NetJets declined to respond due to the pending litigation.
