Aviation Career Research Articles

Gender Diversity In Aviation: What Is It Like To Be In The Female Minority?

This qualitative phenomenological study sought to explain what it is like to be a gender minority in the aviation industry to bring awareness of the personal experiences lived by women in aviation to identify if the experiences of gender minorities in aviation contribute to the lower number of women in aviation. This research sought to bridge the existing gap in the literature related to women in aviation by seeking the personal perceptions and experiences of 10 women in aviation to understand what it’s like to be a gender minority (female) in aviation, to help improve the gender imbalance in the aviation industry. Participants from the study included 10 female aviation professionals from various careers: Air Ambulance Pilot, First Officer for International Cargo Carrier, US Commercial Airline Captain, Chief Executive Officer for major airport, licensed A&P mechanic at major US commercial carrier, FAA Certified Air Traffic Controller, College Professor of Aviation, Military Pilot, Corporate Pilot, and Flight Attendant. Findings from in-depth interviews helped illustrate participants experiences regarding what it is like to be a minority in the aviation industry. In the personal interviews, common themes emerged about support and barriers these women faced during their careers in aviation, as well as during their school, training, and careers. The common themes that emerged from the overall findings were participants always feeling outnumbered, lack of career advancement and opportunities regardless of qualifications, the challenges associated with motherhood/lifestyle with a career in aviation, and the existence of gender barriers and bias in aviation. Participants gave personal comments summarizing personality traits women must possess to be successful in the aviation industry, a self-explanation of what it is like to be a gender minority in the aviation industry, and their suggestions on how to better diversify the aviation industry. The findings of this study are important for the aviation industry as its aging workforce retires, the demand for air travel increases, and as the emphasis on diversity and the role of minorities rise. These findings seek to bring awareness to issues faced by minority females in aviation that can used by all stakeholders to help achieve gender parity in the aviation industry in the future.

AGRICULTURAL AVIATION AT THE CROSS ROADS

Thank you for the opportunity to present this address in my home district, from where I started my business career in aviation in 1949. The 34 years have been eventful, stimulating and satisfying, particularly when it has been said so many times that the agricultural aviation industry has been the single most important development in post war years, in arresting the lost production from New Zealand hill country. The main contribution tq,the threefold increase in stock unit numbers has been the service provided by the aviation industry. It is a record that we, who created it, and spent our working lifetime on, can be justly proud.

Career Exploration: Teaching Students to Pack Their Own Chutes

One of the most difficult tasks facing most of our students is the choice of an aviation career path and the best approach in pursuing their goals. Too often, at many schools, students are more or less left to scramble for themselves in conjunction with the campus placement office in order to obtain whatever information may be available. There is usually a considerable amount of wasted time and various aviation fields. However, this was largely on an ad hoc basis, typically career choices were at best only marginally satisfactory because the approach effort; students who are improperly prepared for the process of job and career choice often make many mistakes and experience a great deal of frustration in their efforts to make the transition fran the campus to the world of work.

Stability and Control in Aircraft Design

The 890th Lecture to be given before the Royal Aeronautical Society was held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, London, S.W.I, on 12th November 1953, and was presided over by Sir William Farren, C.B., M.B.E., M.A., F.R.S., F.R.Ae.S., President of the Society. Introducing the lecturer, Sir William said that Mr. Wimpenny had been with the de Havilland Company throughout his career in aviation and had been responsible for some years for the design and development of stability and control of the de Havilland aircraft, including the Comet, so that clearly he spoke with a wide knowledge of his subject.