Women's Participation in U.S. Pilot Careers: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Trends, Barriers, and Workplace Climate (2015-2024)
Main Article Content
Abstract
Women remain significantly underrepresented in U.S. pilot careers despite decades of diversity initiatives and industry workforce shortages. This study examined women's participation across pilot certification levels from 2015 to 2024, identified barriers to advancement, and analyzed workplace climate factors influencing career trajectories. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design integrated quantitative trend analysis of FAA Civil Airmen Statistics with a systematic literature review of 31 scholarly sources and secondary analysis of workplace climate survey data. Statistical significance of participation trends was assessed using weighted least squares regression and binomial generalized linear models. Women's representation increased significantly across all certification categories: student pilots (+4.1 percentage points, 11.9% to 16.0%), commercial pilots (+3.6 points, 6.5% to 10.1%), private pilots (+2.3 points, 6.6% to 8.9%), and ATP certificates (+1.2 points, 4.2% to 5.5%). Annual growth rates varied significantly, with student pilots showing the steepest increase (+0.46 points/year) and ATP the smallest (+0.13 points/year). Literature analysis identified five primary barriers: recruitment pipeline limitations, financial constraints, masculine organizational culture, mentorship deficits, and work-life integration challenges. Workplace climate analysis revealed that 62% of women experienced harassment and 51% faced retaliation when reporting. While statistically significant progress occurred across all certification levels, the persistent "leaky pipeline" pattern and high harassment rates indicate that current intervention approaches remain insufficient for addressing senior-level advancement barriers. Achieving gender parity would require over 340 years under current ATP advancement trends, highlighting the need for comprehensive cultural change initiatives alongside recruitment efforts.
Article Details
References
Acker, J. (1990). Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: A theory of gendered organizations. Gender & Society, 4(2), 139–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124390004002002
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational outlook handbook: Airline and commercial pilots. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm
Clark, P. J., Newcomer, J. M., & Nolen, S. L. (2015). Overcoming gender barriers in aircraft maintenance: Women's perceptions in the United States. The Collegiate Aviation Review International, 33(1), 92–108. https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/7746
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Davey, C. L., & Davidson, M. J. (2000). The right of passage? The experiences of female pilots in commercial aviation. Feminism & Psychology, 10(2), 195–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353500010002002
Federal Aviation Administration. (2022). Breaking barriers for women in aviation: Flight plan for the future (Women in Aviation Advisory Board Report). https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/P.L.%20115-254%20Sec.%20612%20Women%20in%20Aviation%20Advisory%20Board%20-REPORT.pdf
Federal Aviation Administration. (2023). Aviation workforce development strategic framework 2023-2027. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.faa.gov/about/plans_reports/workforce_development
Federal Aviation Administration. (2024). U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics: 2015–2024 tables [Datasets]. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics
Fetters, M. D., Curry, L. A., & Creswell, J. W. (2013). Achieving integration in mixed methods designs—Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 48(6), 2134–2156. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12117
Germain, M. L., Herzog, M. J. R., & Hamilton, C. (2012). Women employed in male-dominated industries: Lessons learned from female aircraft pilots, pilots-in-training and mixed-gender flight instructors. Human Resource Development International, 15(4), 435–453. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2012.707528
Gorlin, I., & Bridges, D. (2021). Aviation culture: A "glass sky" for women pilots—Literature review. Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 8(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.58940/jaaa.8.2.5
Guetterman, T. C., Fetters, M. D., & Creswell, J. W. (2015). Integrating quantitative and qualitative results in health science mixed methods research through joint displays. Annals of Family Medicine, 13(6), 554–561. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1865
International Air Transport Association. (2024). Gender in aviation (September 2024). https://www.iata.org/contentassets/cd7f1170cbf447c7824f63e8d138e5d0/gender-in-aviation-final.pdf
International Civil Aviation Organization. (2023). Global aviation gender report 2023. ICAO Publications. https://www.icao.int/about-icao/aviation-development/Pages/Gender.aspx
Ison, D. C. (2008). The status of women faculty in four-year aviation higher education programs. Journal of Women in Educational Leadership, 6(2), 117–133. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jwel/40
Ison, D. C. (2010). The future of women in aviation: Trends in participation in postsecondary aviation education. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 19(3), 51–61. https://commons.erau.edu/jaaer/vol19/iss3/8/
Ison, D. C., Herron, R., & Weiland, L. (2016). Two decades of progress for minorities in aviation. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 6(1), 78–94. https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1141
Lutte, R. K. (2019). Women in aviation: A workforce report. Aviation Institute Faculty Publications. 6.https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/aviationfacpub/6/
Lutte, R. K., & Morrison, S. M. (2022). “You’ll never really be one of us”: Women’s underrepresentation in the aviation workforce. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.15394/jaaer.2022.1929
Marintseva, K., Mahanecs, A., Pandey, M., & Wilson, N. (2022). Factors influencing low female representation in pilot training recruitment. Transport Policy, 117, 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.12.011
McCarthy, F., Budd, L., & Ison, S. (2015). Gender on the flightdeck: Experiences of women commercial airline pilots in the UK. Journal of Air Transport Management, 47, 32–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2015.04.001
Mouton, A. N., & Morrison, B. J. (2022). Literature review of barriers impacting female underrepresentation in commercial and military aviation. Defense Technical Information Center. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1172642.pdf
Opengart, R., & Ison, D. C. (2016). A strategy for alleviating aviation shortages through the recruitment of women. International Journal of Aviation Management, 3(1), 58–74. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAM.2016.077764
Pilot Institute. (2023, April 6). Women pilot statistics: Female representation in aviation. https://pilotinstitute.com/women-aviation-statistics/