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Teaching Women to Fly

The Research

Results

The following responses are from 54 Female Pilots-in-Training and 157 Female pilots.

Each chart shows the number of responses and the share of the total. Select the expand icon on any chart to view it larger.

  1. 01Aviation experience:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Aviation Experience

    136responses
    • Student pilot or GA tng47 (35%)
    • Air training41 (30%)
    • Ground school30 (22%)
    • Soloed11 (8%)
    • GA passenger/pinch hit7 (5%)
    Female Pilots

    Aviation Experience

    288responses
    • Private Pilot157 (55%)
    • Instrument Rating49 (17%)
    • Advanced Rating29 (10%)
    • Glider9 (3%)
    • Rotorcraft6 (2%)
    • Seaplane5 (2%)
    • Other/airline/military33 (11%)

  2. 02Number of flight time hours:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Number of Flight Time Hours

    54responses
    • No Flight Time9 (17%)
    • Less Than 50 Hours34 (63%)
    • 51 to 100 Hours11 (20%)
    Female Pilots

    Number of Flight Time Hours

    157responses
    • 50 and under9 (6%)
    • 51 to 10034 (22%)
    • 101 to 50055 (35%)
    • Over 50041 (26%)
    • No Response18 (11%)

  3. 03Number of years as a pilot:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)
    NANot asked of this group
    Female Pilots

    Number of Years a Private Pilot

    157responses
    • Under 5 years68 (43%)
    • 6 to 20 years55 (35%)
    • 21 or more years21 (13%)
    • No Response13 (8%)

  4. 04Close family member a pilot:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Close Family Member a Pilot

    54responses
    • YES18 (33%)
    • NO12 (22%)
    • No Response24 (44%)
    Female Pilots

    Close Family Member a Pilot

    149responses
    • Yes65 (44%)
    • No73 (49%)
    • No response11 (7%)

  5. 05Friend or neighbor a pilot:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Friend or Neighbor a Pilot

    54responses
    • YES19 (35%)
    • NO13 (24%)
    • No Response22 (41%)
    Female Pilots

    Friend or Neighbor a Pilot

    149responses
    • Yes34 (23%)
    • No108 (72%)
    • No response7 (5%)

  6. 06Female aviator/mentor:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Female Aviator/Mentor

    54responses
    • YES3 (6%)
    • NO21 (39%)
    • No Response30 (56%)
    Female Pilots

    Female Aviator/Mentor

    149responses
    • Yes37 (25%)
    • No106 (71%)
    • No response6 (4%)

  7. 07Why did you start pilot training:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Why Did They Start Pilot Training

    54responses
    • Fulfilling Personal Dream18 (33%)
    • Male Pilot Encouraged11 (20%)
    • Encouraged by Family8 (15%)
    • Woman Pilot Encouraged6 (11%)
    • No Response11 (20%)
    Female Pilots

    Why Did You Start Pilot Training

    157responses
    • Fulfilling Personal Dream25 (16%)
    • Encouraged - Male pilot31 (20%)
    • Encouraged - Female pilot8 (5%)
    • Career/business22 (14%)
    • Loved the freedom17 (11%)
    • Risk taker7 (4%)
    • Needed challenge23 (15%)
    • Conquer fear16 (10%)
    • No response8 (5%)

  8. 08Age range:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    PIT Age Range

    54responses
    • 30 and Under9 (17%)
    • 31 to 5021 (39%)
    • 51 and Over15 (28%)
    • No response9 (17%)
    Female Pilots

    Female Pilot Age Groups

    157responses
    • 30 and Under25 (16%)
    • Between 31-5067 (43%)
    • Over 5048 (31%)
    • No response17 (11%)

  9. 09Formal education:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    PIT Formal Education

    54responses
    • High school diploma11 (20%)
    • College graduate20 (37%)
    • Advanced degree9 (17%)
    • No response14 (26%)
    Female Pilots

    Formal Educational Level Achieved

    157responses
    • High School Diploma27 (17%)
    • College Graduate74 (47%)
    • Advanced Degree39 (25%)
    • No response17 (11%)

  10. 10High school and/or college sports experience:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    High School or College Sports Experience

    54responses
    • Yes13 (24%)
    • No8 (15%)
    • No response33 (61%)
    Female Pilots

    High School or College Sports Experience

    157responses
    • Yes68 (43%)
    • No7 (4%)
    • No response82 (52%)

  11. 11Current/past career/employment

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Current/past Career Employment

    54responses
    • Full-time flight student10 (19%)
    • Media/communications10 (19%)
    • Aviation-related10 (19%)
    • Corporate/construction9 (17%)
    • No response10 (19%)
    • Misc. (edu., health)5 (9%)
    Female Pilots

    Current/Past Career/Employment-open-ended

    157responses
    • Aviation related42 (27%)
    • Education/non-profit31 (20%)
    • Media/communications17 (11%)
    • Corporate/construction17 (11%)
    • IT/engineering15 (10%)
    • Legal/accounting11 (7%)
    • Health care7 (4%)
    • Misc .....4 (3%)
    • No response13 (8%)

  12. 12Aviation training/instruction experience:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Aviation Training/Instruction Experiences

    54responses
    • Arranged through FBO26 (48%)
    • Private Instruction11 (20%)
    • No Response11 (20%)
    • Univ., College or CC6 (11%)
    Female Pilots

    Aviation Training/Instruction Experiences

    183responses
    • Private Lessons47 (26%)
    • Through FBO or Airport85 (46%)
    • College or University24 (13%)
    • Flying Club6 (3%)
    • Military6 (3%)
    • No Response15 (8%)

  13. 13Most positive experience was:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    My most positive experience

    54responses
    • Built self confidence17 (31%)
    • Opened career opportunity12 (22%)
    • Freedom - fun10 (19%)
    • No response9 (17%)
    • Closer to father/husband4 (7%)
    • Joined aviation group2 (4%)
    Female Pilots

    My Most Positive Experience was

    157responses
    • Developed friendships34 (22%)
    • Built self-confidence29 (18%)
    • Needed challenge25 (16%)
    • Freedom/fun20 (13%)
    • Overcame fear14 (9%)
    • Career opportunity14 (9%)
    • Closer to Dad/ Male SO9 (6%)
    • No response12 (8%)

  14. 14Barriers to ground school success:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Barriers to Ground School Success

    54responses
    • No response17 (31%)
    • No barriers14 (26%)
    • No females to talk with10 (19%)
    • Reluctant to ask question4 (7%)
    • Males understand maps3 (6%)
    • Terminology not explained3 (6%)
    • Limited time and/or money3 (6%)
    Female Pilots

    Barriers to My Success in Ground School

    157responses
    • No barriers38 (24%)
    • Used self-study DVDs25 (16%)
    • Mechanical unfamiliar30 (19%)
    • No response30 (19%)
    • Afraid to ask questions10 (6%)
    • Cost8 (5%)
    • Old curriculum8 (5%)
    • Multiple Instructors8 (5%)

  15. 15Barriers to flight training success:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Barriers to Flight Training Success

    54responses
    • Too fearfull10 (19%)
    • No barriers8 (15%)
    • No female mentors7 (13%)
    • Too many flt. instructors7 (13%)
    • Gender prejudice5 (9%)
    • No response5 (9%)
    • Instructor yelled at her4 (7%)
    • Flight school closed2 (4%)
    • FAA medical issues2 (4%)
    • Fear of stalling plane2 (4%)
    • Radio use difficulties2 (4%)
    Female Pilots

    Barriers to My Success in Flight Training

    157responses
    • Fearful15 (10%)
    • No family support12 (8%)
    • Cost29 (18%)
    • No female mentors7 (4%)
    • Many instructors17 (11%)
    • Gender prejudice9 (6%)
    • No response13 (8%)
    • Instructor incompatible22 (14%)
    • Lack of confidence17 (11%)
    • No barriers11 (7%)
    • Aircraft down for repair5 (3%)

  16. 16Barriers in the physical environment of the cockpit:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Barriers in the Cockpit Physical Environment

    54responses
    • No response24 (44%)
    • No barrier16 (30%)
    • Too short for seat/pedals14 (26%)
    Female Pilots

    Barriers in the Cockpit Physical Environment

    157responses
    • Too short for seat/pedals42 (27%)
    • No problems59 (38%)
    • No response39 (25%)
    • Air sickness7 (4%)
    • Cockpit noise5 (3%)
    • Cockpit too small5 (3%)

  17. 17Suggestions to improve the flight training process:

    Pilots-in-Training (PIT)

    Suggestions to improve flight training

    54responses
    • No response27 (50%)
    • More female mentors11 (20%)
    • Greater access to loans5 (9%)
    • Interview instructors4 (7%)
    • More simulator time4 (7%)
    • Insist on same plane3 (6%)
    Female Pilots

    Ideas to Improve Flight Training Experience

    157responses
    • More GA mentors29 (18%)
    • More women mentors24 (15%)
    • Interview instructors22 (14%)
    • Update equipment14 (9%)
    • More women instructors11 (7%)
    • More fun/encouragement11 (7%)
    • Outreach to women9 (6%)
    • Female role models8 (5%)
    • No response29 (18%)