British Airways captain, 66, says she was a ‘grumpy old so-and-so’ before coming out to her colleagues as transgender at 58 after more than 40 years as a male pilot
- Cat Burton, from Barry, South Wales, transitioned from male to female aged 62
- The now 66-year-old started her successful flying career as Vance Burton in 1972
- She retired as British Airways’ most senior woman pilot a year-and-a-half ago
- Now campaigns for transgender rights including better GP services for over 50s
A jet captain has said she was a ‘grumpy old so-and-so’ before coming out as transgender and working as British Airways’ most senior woman pilot.
Cat Burton, from Barry, South Wales, was known as Vance Burton and sported a mustache, when she started her flying career in 1972.
But when she reached the age of 58 she decided to come out as transgender to her British Airways colleagues – saying it was the ‘hardest thing she’s ever done.’
Cat Burton (pictured), 66, from Barry, South Wales, has worked for British Airways’ for 45 years, but it was only later in life that she decided to transition
Ms Burton (pictured) always knew she wanted to be a pilot after her father took her in a jet fighter when she was just six months old. She also wanted to transition from male to female from a young age but that dream took much longer to realise
She retired as BA’s most senior woman pilot a year-and-a-half ago and is now flying the flag for transgender rights.
Ms Burton said: ‘The support I had from my colleagues was incredible. When I got back to work I was called in by my chief pilot, which is always a bit of a worry.
‘He said he’d had a string of first officers in to talk about flying with me since I came back to work.
Ms Burton started her flying careers as Vance Burton (pictured). Only transitioning at the age of 62
‘They all said how much easier I was to fly with now. I was a grumpy old so-and-so as a male captain.
‘I used to sit on my side of the aeroplane and basically cut myself off, whereas now it’s a case of you can’t stop me talking.’
Ms Burton always knew she wanted to be a pilot after her father took her in a jet fighter when she was just six months old.
She also wanted to transition from male to female from a young age but that dream took much longer to realise.
Speaking about coming out to her colleagues, Ms Burton said: ‘I liken it to stepping off a cliff in pitch darkness and then finding out the cliff is only two inches high.
‘It was daunting contemplating transitioning, I’d buried all my gender issues when I was 14.
‘I’d locked them away in a little box in the back of my brain and I would never open this box but something opened it quite late in life – and I realised you only live once.’
Ms Burton is now calling for better GP services for transgender people over 50, citing particular issues over facial hair growth or hair loss.
She said: ‘Somebody who’s transgender and has gone past the ability to either afford or manage that situation is going to be in a care home and perhaps have no hair but they are still them.
‘Are they going to be treated with dignity if they’re going to be sitting there with male pattern baldness but identifying as female?’
Ms Burton, who worked for British Airways for 45 years, is now calling for better GP services for transgender people over 50
Ms Burton (centre) is pictured with her British Airways colleagues. She retired as BA’s most senior woman pilot a year-and-a-half ago – and is now flying the flag for transgender rights
Research by The Trans Ageing and Care project also says GPs need more training.
Dr Nimish Shah, transgender lead for GP Wales, agreed there needs to be more transgender awareness training for doctors.
He said up until now doctors had to refer transgender patients to London. But plans are being made for a new gender team based in Cardiff.
He said: ‘Hopefully we’re going to have a more local system and a system with shorter waiting times. I think it will also increase awareness of trans issues.’