Sex change flier to keep job

A British Royal Air Force officer who's had a sex change is to keep her job as a helicopter navigator.

Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige, who was previously known as Eric Cookson, is currently recovering from the operation.

The Ministry of Defence in London said that she would have to pass a medical test before returning to flying, just as with any other surgical operation, but the sex change itself was not an issue.

Most roles in the British armed forces are open to both sexes, although women do not serve in front-line combat units.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service