Evaluation Of A Coaching Program With Ab Initio Student Pilots

Abstract

The aviation industry estimates an extraordinary demand for new pilots worldwide over the next 20 years. Women are underrepresented in the pilot population worldwide and there is concern in the aviation industry that talented women are going to other industries and do not approach or even leave the aviation field. Previous research hypothesized that role models and coaching programs could be effective for overcoming barriers in the success of pilot training, especially for women. In this explorative study a standardized group coaching program was conducted by active airline pilots. The coaches conducted a discussion with a group of student pilots. The coaching session was moderated by an aviation psychologist and addressed issues such as learning strategies, difficulties and solutions to overcome them, mentoring, financing, getting a job as pilot, fulfilling of career expectations, combining the work and family life. The coaching program was evaluated with 36 ab initio student pilots (17 females). All females and 74% of males evaluated the coaching program as useful. The results show that student pilots’ fear of failure, of disgracing themselves during flight training was significantly reduced after coaching. The coaching did not significantly influence the motivational factors challenge, probability of success and interest. The motivational factors fear of failure, of disgracing oneself and challenge were significantly stronger in females than in males. No significant gender differences were found in the self-reported prospects of success and interest in the flight training.