Collegiate aviation programs and their under representation of female students: A national study of the perceptions of female student pilots

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the existence and extent of barriers and biases against female flight students at collegiate flight programs. The researcher gathered data from female flight students related to their under representation and the existence of negative barriers or biases in collegiate aviation programs. Women have remained underutilized and underrepresented as professional pilots in the United States air carrier industry. If the trend of under representation of females in collegiate flight programs remains unchanged, women will continue to account for a decreased role within the aviation industry. While females constitute a small percentage of the commercial pilot force, they comprise a large resource pool for the commercial aviation industry. Therefore, the commercial aviation industry can significantly increase the amount of females seeking aviation careers if this trend of under representation can be reversed. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers and other possible issues that propagate the under representation of females in collegiate aviation programs by focusing on female flight students' personal perceptions of their collegiate aviation programs. Four research questions were used to support the findings of the study using descriptive statistics. Data from the research instrument was analyzed using the statistical analysis software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Findings and Conclusions: This study was guided by four research questions that related to the following areas; the under representation of female flight students of collegiate aviation programs, negative barriers or biases within collegiate aviation programs, internships and scholarships offered specifically for female flight students, and adequate numbers of female professionals employed at collegiate aviation programs. This study found; female flight students believed that the under representation of female flight students should be a primary concern for their collegiate aviation program, female flight students do not believe that negative remarks or biases due to gender exist within their collegiate flight program, female flight students do believe that both scholarships and internships specifically offered for female flight students are adequately available from their collegiate flight programs, and that there is not a sufficient number of female professionals employed at their collegiate flight program.