Well made. Maybe they could have given a nod to the idea that aviation is not entirely a man's sport. Maybe that bit about women and children left in their snug homes suggests a tongue-in-cheekiness to the tone. Could be.
Yes, I noticed the near total focus on heroic men, and near the end the focus shifts to a woman—who’s a stewardess, portrayed as lovely, kind, and helpful, but not heroic. TC, I also agree it’s a gorgeous ad, written, scored, and filmed by professionals with the souls of poets. It would have been entirely doable to keep all the poetic beauty, stay true to the fact (if in fact it’s true) that from the dawn of BOAC through the 1960s or 1970s, all the pilots were men, and they still could easily have worked the story to show the evolution to a modern corps of pilots (and of cabin stewards) of both genders and multiple ethnicities. Representation that’s true to fact really does matter. The message that only men are the dreaming, brave, heroic, soaring adventurers—and white men at that—is no longer what most of us believe (members of the atavistic Trump/Orban/Putin cult excepted).
And in spite of my reaction as a woman and feminist, I definitely still appreciate the beauty and poetry of this ad.
Perfectly stated. There has barely been a time, in the history of aviation, that flying has been entirely the domain of white men. (Or that women remained conveniently "snug" at home.)
I say this with the cautionary caveat that not everything/all the time must be completely representational, especially if cross-representality isn't really the story of that thing. But this ad seems oddly omissive.
My mother earned her pilot's license at age 19 (1939). She didn't continue flying though bcz she did it to show her 2 bragging older brothers that she could do it too. In 1942, she married my father and once his sloop was out of wartime storage, she turned her skills to navigating and serving as foredeck crew in many successful races on Chesapeake Bay. She also took "Motor Mac" classes with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
You'll be happy to know that when I went for flying lessons, I took my then 7 year old niece and she got lessons. She did so well her first time that the instructor gave her an extra take-off and landing. And although neither of us kept it up, a decade later my niece paraglided high above Melbourne Australia with an instructor.
Emily, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece are (were for m-i-l, RIP) were all pilots. Currently, my sister-in-law is a Capitan for FedEx in the 777, and my niece is a Capitan for Horizon Air. When my niece completed her 500th hour as PIC, her First Officer was her college roommate; both women.
Still, there are fewer women pilots than in almost any other industry...
Gorgeous minutes with British Airways. The commercials reminded me of the way it used to feel when I traveled by air around sixty years ago. It was a great adventure and thrilling to takeoff in what appeared to be a secure, well cared for, clean, shining bright airplane with a welcoming crew. (The commercials also reminded me of Hollywood's fantasies in the old days.)
believe it or not, I haven't been on a plane since 1997. it was still fun back then. I loved Virgin Atlantic, where they fed you pretty much every minute and people were into this retro-hippy thing. even then, however, I noticed that the legroom had started diminishing. everyone tells me that since 9/112, it's become a total bummer and I haven't had to be any place I couldn't drive to.
my favorite way of getting anywhere has always been trains. a nice long European train trip is probably still pretty good.
You're right! It is a great ad! But - where are the women? I know they were there and have been there. But the images are brilliant. Maybe Annalena Baerboch's team might want to tap into British aviation history?
Yes, it was a good ad. Thanks for calling it to our attention. Hope you didn’t get flooded out or shaken-up by the hurricane or the earthquake, and now, do not have any messes to clean-up.
And in fact, one of the first aviators was not only a woman but African-American. Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman, and also the first woman of Native-American descent, to hold a pilot's license.
Well made. Maybe they could have given a nod to the idea that aviation is not entirely a man's sport. Maybe that bit about women and children left in their snug homes suggests a tongue-in-cheekiness to the tone. Could be.
Yes, I noticed the near total focus on heroic men, and near the end the focus shifts to a woman—who’s a stewardess, portrayed as lovely, kind, and helpful, but not heroic. TC, I also agree it’s a gorgeous ad, written, scored, and filmed by professionals with the souls of poets. It would have been entirely doable to keep all the poetic beauty, stay true to the fact (if in fact it’s true) that from the dawn of BOAC through the 1960s or 1970s, all the pilots were men, and they still could easily have worked the story to show the evolution to a modern corps of pilots (and of cabin stewards) of both genders and multiple ethnicities. Representation that’s true to fact really does matter. The message that only men are the dreaming, brave, heroic, soaring adventurers—and white men at that—is no longer what most of us believe (members of the atavistic Trump/Orban/Putin cult excepted).
And in spite of my reaction as a woman and feminist, I definitely still appreciate the beauty and poetry of this ad.
Yes, that final 747 cockpit shot could have had a woman in one of the front seats.
Perfectly stated. There has barely been a time, in the history of aviation, that flying has been entirely the domain of white men. (Or that women remained conveniently "snug" at home.)
I say this with the cautionary caveat that not everything/all the time must be completely representational, especially if cross-representality isn't really the story of that thing. But this ad seems oddly omissive.
My mother earned her pilot's license at age 19 (1939). She didn't continue flying though bcz she did it to show her 2 bragging older brothers that she could do it too. In 1942, she married my father and once his sloop was out of wartime storage, she turned her skills to navigating and serving as foredeck crew in many successful races on Chesapeake Bay. She also took "Motor Mac" classes with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Why does it not surprise me, Judith, that you would have a mother like you have described? :-)
You'll be happy to know that when I went for flying lessons, I took my then 7 year old niece and she got lessons. She did so well her first time that the instructor gave her an extra take-off and landing. And although neither of us kept it up, a decade later my niece paraglided high above Melbourne Australia with an instructor.
Emily, my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece are (were for m-i-l, RIP) were all pilots. Currently, my sister-in-law is a Capitan for FedEx in the 777, and my niece is a Capitan for Horizon Air. When my niece completed her 500th hour as PIC, her First Officer was her college roommate; both women.
Still, there are fewer women pilots than in almost any other industry...
Can't help wondering if your SIL might be one of the FedEx pilots that comes In to land over my house at 4 AM daily. : , )
Well, she flies international routes, so probably not. But I’ll bet that at some point, she flies those packages.
Gorgeous minutes with British Airways. The commercials reminded me of the way it used to feel when I traveled by air around sixty years ago. It was a great adventure and thrilling to takeoff in what appeared to be a secure, well cared for, clean, shining bright airplane with a welcoming crew. (The commercials also reminded me of Hollywood's fantasies in the old days.)
Yes. Old flying was great, unlike the torture that is modern air travel.
believe it or not, I haven't been on a plane since 1997. it was still fun back then. I loved Virgin Atlantic, where they fed you pretty much every minute and people were into this retro-hippy thing. even then, however, I noticed that the legroom had started diminishing. everyone tells me that since 9/112, it's become a total bummer and I haven't had to be any place I couldn't drive to.
my favorite way of getting anywhere has always been trains. a nice long European train trip is probably still pretty good.
You're right! It is a great ad! But - where are the women? I know they were there and have been there. But the images are brilliant. Maybe Annalena Baerboch's team might want to tap into British aviation history?
One of the best-produced commercials ever made - a personal favorite of this airplane geek.....
QANTAS did something similar for a safety video, shown on their aircraft during their centenary year of 2020:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLq8if1nkTM
Almost makes me Want to fly.
yeah, nice. very David Lean, late forties. but in color.
Lovely. Just what I needed to see tonight. ♥️
Someone is doing a good marketing job.....
Well produced aviation story. ( do they have any female pilots??)
The ad that comes up right after "yours" is a tear jerker..." Flying to India since 1924"
I was in tears watching that!
The next one up for me was a lengthy & amusing series of auditions for the safety film shown before takeoff featuring Michael Caine.
The RAF lads are still aloft in the old planes that along with the Spitfires saved London during WWII. The UK air legacy is solid.
https://news.sky.com/video/raf-typhoon-jets-intercepted-russian-bombers-flying-north-of-scotland-12940003
British Airways -- To fly. To serve. Excellent.
Hi Tom,
Yes, it was a good ad. Thanks for calling it to our attention. Hope you didn’t get flooded out or shaken-up by the hurricane or the earthquake, and now, do not have any messes to clean-up.
Check the post yesterday on the Hurriquake that wasn't and updates.
Does BA have no women pilots?
And FWIW, I have a private pilot's license. I'm not alone; women have been in aviation since its beginnings.
And in fact, one of the first aviators was not only a woman but African-American. Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman, and also the first woman of Native-American descent, to hold a pilot's license.
Nostalgia in wing
Edit: On wing:-)
Agreed.
Wow...that gave me chills. Beautiful commercial.