Sussan Ley on Saturday announced she would push for national "pilot parity" with the number of women pilots in Australia currently below one in 10.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency data also recently exposed a median gender pay gap of up to 55 per cent in the aviation sector, something airlines have attributed to a lack of women pilots.

Skills data showed the number of women training to become commercial pilots was going backwards, Ms Ley said.

The deputy opposition leader pledged to conduct and publish a pilot parity audit, writing to all Australian airlines to demand updates on their gender targets and explain their initiatives to bolster women pilot numbers.

Ms Ley would also seek a briefing from Transport Minister Catherine King about the government's efforts to boost the number of women pilots in Australia, as well as consult the aviation sector and engage the parliamentary library to research the best ways to support female pilots.

"We should be leading the world here and as part of this new push, I am hoping we see a really constructive national conversation about how we get there," Ms Ley said in a statement.

"I want Australian girls to dream of being pilots and I want them to become pilots - but for that to happen we need a renewed focus and energy on this issue."

The deputy opposition leader said other countries were outdoing Australia.

In India and Ireland, women accounted for 12.4 per cent and 9.9 per cent of pilots.

In Australia, 7.5 per cent of pilots were women, according to International Civil Aviation Organisation data.

Ms Ley, who gained her commercial pilot's licence at age 19, said she was overlooked for jobs in commercial aviation because of her gender.

She instead turned to work in an air traffic control and then in aerial stock-mustering.

Australian Associated Press