What is the future for gender diversity in the pilot trainer role? Myth or reality?

Durbin, Sue; Warren, Stella; Munns, Marnie

Abstract

Over the last six years initiatives have been put in place to address the lack of female pilots within the airline industry by understanding the pilot pipeline and by using initiatives that directly attract the attention of potential female pilots. Efforts have also been focused upon outreach work with young people to help to dispel the myths surrounding the profession and to help support those interested in investing in a pilot career. However, very little has been done to understand the lived experiences of minority group pilots currently within the industry, especially those of women, in terms of their career paths and aspirations and the enablers and challenges to this.

This study directly asked those working as pilots and pilot trainers their thoughts regarding the issues around the lack of gender diversity amongst the pilot and pilot trainer populations. Training departments are the key to the growth and recovery of the airline industry and are essential to the cultural change that needs to occur to make the industry more inclusive. In order to understand and achieve this goal we need to address one major question: why are most training departments so male dominated?

• Report Type: Research Report
• Acceptance Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Keywords: female pilot trainers, male dominated industry, airline industry
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9184757
• Publisher URL: https://www.aerosociety.com/media/17924/pilot_training_report_march_2022-final-pdf.pdf
• Additional Information: This is the first independent and comprehensive study of its kind in the airline industry that focuses upon three key roles - commercial pilots, pilot trainers and student/newly qualified pilots - from a comparative gender perspective.