Female Pilot Was Told She Was 'Too Short' To Fly One Of Its Jets

A five-foot, two-inch tall female pilot has sued her former employer, NetJets Inc, after being told she was too short to fly one of the company's planes.

Fox News reports that pilot Shari Drerup filed the lawsuit on August 13. She is being supported by attorney Gloria Allred, who has a history of working on behalf of women's rights. Drerup is claiming gender discrimination in the suit after being let go by the fractional service.

In her suit, Drerup says the was told that she was unable to reach the rudder pedals of the company's Phenom 300 after completing extensive training and being measured to ensure she would be able to fly all of the company's planes. The issue with her height arose when she began simulator training for the aircraft. Drerup says in her filing that she was told by NetJets to "go buy a booster seat. Wear platform shoes. Just make it work."

Despite being cleared to fly two other aircraft in the NetJets fleet, Drerup was terminated. However, three male pilots in her class who were deemed to be "too tall" to fly the Phenom 300 were reassigned to fly other aircraft. Allred said at a news conference last week that Drerup's termination while the male pilots kept their jobs "constitutes sex discrimination, and is clearly a double standard for male and female pilots."

Drerup is seeking around $75,000 in back pay, front pay or reinstatement from NetJets, according to the report.

(Image from Gloria Allred news release)

FMI: Source report