Female Pilots Research Articles

Exploring the measurement of psychological resilience in Chinese civil aviation pilots based on generalizability theory and item response theory.

Understanding and accurately measuring resilience among Chinese civil aviation pilots is imperative, especially concerning the psychological impact of distressing events on their well-being and aviation safety. Despite the necessity, a validated and tailored measurement tool specific to this demographic is absent. Addressing this gap, this study built on the widely used CD-RISC-25 to analyze and modify its applicability to Chinese civil aviation pilots. Utilizing CD-RISC-25 survey data from 231 Chinese pilots, correlational and differential analyses identified items 3 and 20 as incongruent with this population's resilience profile. Subsequently, factor analysis derived a distinct two-factor resilience psychological framework labeled "Decisiveness" and "Adaptability", which diverged from the structure found in American female pilots and the broader Chinese populace. Additionally, to further accurately identify the measurement characteristics of this 2-factor measurement model, this study introduced Generalized Theory and Item Response Theory, two modern measurement analysis theories, to comprehensively analyze the overall reliability of the measurement and issues with individual items. Results showed that the 2-factor model exhibited high reliability, with generalizability coefficient reaching 0.89503 and dependability coefficient reaching 0.88496, indicating the 2-factor measurement questionnaire can be effectively utilized for relative and absolute comparison of Chinese civil aviation pilot resilience. However, items in Factor 2 provided less information and have larger room for optimization than those in Factor 1, implying item option redesign may be beneficial. Consequently, this study culminates in the creation of a more accurate and reliable two-factor psychological resilience measurement tool tailored for Chinese civil aviation pilots, while exploring directions for optimization. By facilitating early identification of individuals with lower resilience and enabling the evaluation of intervention efficacy, this tool aims to positively impact pilot psychological health and aviation safety in the context of grief and trauma following distressing events.

The Problematics of Gender for Aviation Emergency Communication during an Inflight Emergency: A Case Study

Due to the rarity of female pilots, aviation communication is typically conducted in a single-gender environment. The role of gender in interactions during inflight emergencies has not yet been adequately explored. This single case analysis uses a qualitative approach based on conversation analytic transcripts to investigate how gender may be relevant either explicitly or implicitly in radio transmissions between flight crew and Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel, as well as internal ATC phone interactions as participants work to handle an inflight emergency. This incident involved a female pilot and a male copilot, thus providing a naturally occurring rare event to explore the potential relevance of gender. The analysis shows that explicit references to gender are limited to occasional asymmetrical use of gendered address terms and gendered pronouns. Participants also used interactional formulations that—while not explicitly gendered—have been associated in previous research with gender differences in interaction, for example, the use of indirect forms of requests or complaints, actions that imply inferences about the emotional state of participants, or possible confusion over the identity of the pilot given the transitions between male and female sounding voices speaking on behalf of the plane. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for how gender differences can impact aviation communication during emergency incidents.

Self-rated health (SRH), recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia among commercial pilots concerning occupational and non-occupational factors.

This study investigated associations of self-rated health (SRH), recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia with working conditions, the psychosocial work environment, lifestyle, and sense of coherence (SOC) among commercial pilots. A standardized questionnaire was sent to all pilots in an airline company, of whom 354 (61%) responded. Associations were analyzed via ordinal and logistic regression with mutual adjustment. Overall, 21.8% of participants reported low SRH, 13.0% reported not recovering from work during their free time, 61.9% experienced fatigue, and 70.6% experienced insomnia symptoms. A high level of demand at work was associated with poor SRH and more fatigue, and low social support at work was associated with insomnia and poorer recovery from work. Habits surrounding exercise and BMI were associated with SRH. Part-time pilots and captains reported experiencing better recovery from work than their counterparts, while female pilots and younger pilots reported less fatigue. Amount of free time after work and the type of airplane operated were associated with experience of insomnia symptoms. Finally, having a strong sense of coherence was protectively associated with all health outcomes. The psychosocial environment at work is essential for the health of pilots, and a strong sense of coherence can be protective. Occupational conditions may influence recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia. Moreover, engaging in exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, working part-time, and having more free time after the working day could improve pilots' health.

НАСЛЕДНИЦЫ АВИАТРИС: СТАНОВЛЕНИЕ ЖЕНСКОЙ АВИАЦИОННОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ В СССР В МЕЖВОЕННЫЙ ПЕРИОД

The authors dwell on the factors of the formation of women’s aviation culture in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century and during the interwar period. Contrary to the historiographical stereotype, it was not until the mid-1930s that the state develops any policy of recruiting women into aeronautics. The national aviation project remained purely masculine. The most important prerequisites that served as the basis for the formation of the image of the Soviet woman pilot were pre-revolutionary aviatresses, European and American women aviators of the 1920s–1930s. On the other hand, the invasion of women into the traditional male territory of aeronautics since the mid-1920s was based on gender equality declared by the Soviet state. In the 1920s and early 1930s, women were not influential actors of the Soviet aviation project. On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, they came out of the shadows and became the symbol of a new harmonious social order. The women aviator’s successes were rather their own merit than the result of certain efforts of the state to implement the proclaimed principles of gender equality. Women’s aviation in the interwar period was more of a sporting nature. Soviet female pilots set a number of air records (in altitude, range, duration of flights). Both in the USSR and in capitalist countries in the 1930s, aviation did not become feminized, but several outstanding women really marked this era with their exploits. The development of women’s aviation culture in the 1930s became the basis for mass recruitment of women into the Air Force during the Great Patriotic War.

Cancer Awareness Among Airline Pilots

A high level of cancer awareness may contribute to early diagnosis and improve cancer survival. This study is aimed to assess the level of awareness of occupational cancer among airline pilots. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study has examined pilots’ occupational cancer awareness levels for the first time. A brand-new cancer awareness survey was used to examine the awareness level of airline pilots on cancer. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) method was employed to analyze the survey results. The response rate was % 43.6. Data had been collected from 523 individuals, 48 of whom were female pilots. Of the participants 67.3% were long-haul pilots. Female airline pilots were much more aware of cancer in comparison to male airline pilots. Pilots flying 81-90 hours per month were much more aware of cancer in comparison to other participants. Academic articles, magazines and social media were sources of knowledge for 64.6 % of pilots whereas 39.5% of pilots were informed by e-learnings and recurrent trainings regarding the occupational cancer. According to the findings of this study, there is a need for training and media-based interventions to raise awareness and instil safe and healthy lifestyle practices at the workplace in the airline industry.

The Experience and Performance of Female Airline Pilots in Taiwan - A Tripartite Assessment

The pilot profession remains one of the most notable gender-imbalanced occupations in the aviation industry, with women making up a far lower percentage than men. Nevertheless, the experiences and challenges faced by female pilots in the workplace is worth exploring. Previous studies have mostly approached these issues from the perspective of male and/or female pilots, ignoring the opinions of managers responsible for flight operations. This study fills this research gap by adding flight operations managers' assessments of female pilots to explore the topic from a broader and comprehensive tripartite perspective. In addition, gender issues in the cockpit and the impact of female pilot participation are also discussed. The research is conducted through in-depth interviews covering flight operations managers, male pilots, and female pilots in three different Taiwanese airlines. The findings of this study reveal that the performance of female pilots is generally affirmed by flight operations managers and male pilots, and the participation of female pilots produces some chemical effects on the culture of the cockpit, which also contributes to crew resource management and flight safety. Contrary to previous research findings, the female pilots interviewed in this study do not feel that they are being challenged or abused in relation to their gender. Finally, several recommendations are given to the airlines to implement CRM training programs and recruit female pilots.

Body Regions Susceptible To Musculoskeletal Injuries In Canadian Armed Forces Pilots

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKi) are a significant burden on military pilots. Exploring which body regions are most affected by MSKi and describing injury types is essential for developing preventative strategies. Additionally, gaining insight into between-sex differences may serve as a valuable component of MSKi prevention strategies as the number of female pilots is rapidly increasing. PURPOSE This study is a preliminary investigation of potential sex differences in MSKi rates and regions in actively-serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) pilots. METHODS Members of the CAF completed an online cross-sectional survey to capture information about MSKi risks. For the present study, participants who indicated they were actively serving pilots were included. Chi-square analyses were used to evaluate questionnaire items that identified type and region of MSKi to compare response frequency by sex (significance accepted as P < 0.05). RESULTS Seventy-three respondents identified as pilots, of which 53 were male (35.6 + 7.2yrs) and 20 were female (39.9 + 11.1yrs). Figure 1 describes the rates of repetitive strain injuries (RSI) per body region. CONCLUSION RSI rates appear higher for female CAF pilots, and between-sex differences exist in body regions most affected by MSKi. Further research is needed to guide strategies to address sex-disparities and reduce the overall burden of MSKi among CAF pilots.

Investigation of Organizational Power Distance Levels of Pilots Working on Airlines in Turkey: Flight Safety and Professional Courtesy Dilemma

This study aims to obtain new data that will mediate the development of safety culture by investigating the power distance, which is one of the cultural dimensions of communication, and causes accidents in aviation, through the assertiveness levels of the pilots and their social approval needs. The method of this research is quantitative, data were collected through online questionnaires. The population and the sample of the research are consisted of the civilian pilots in Turkey. The questionnaires were applied to 75 pilots. In male pilots participating in the study; The levels of "Instrumental Use of Power" and "Legitimation of Power", which are sub-dimensions of organizational power distance, are significantly higher than female pilots. In addition, it has been revealed that female pilots pay less attention to the judgments of others than male pilots. These results suggest that male pilots need more organizational power than female pilots. One of the results of the research is the strong positive relationship between the assertiveness level of the participants and "Consent to Power", which is one of the sub-dimensions of power distance; it is thought that this relationship stems from the social adaptation capacity of assertive individuals. The study also showed that the main factor determining the behavior of the employees is the organizational culture. Within this scope, sharing the accident reports of Turkish registered aircraft prepared by Transport Safety Investigation Center with researchers and institutions will contribute significantly to the need for resources.

Female Relief Systems in U.S. Military Fighter Ejection Seat Aircraft

In early aircraft, the amount of fuel the aircraft could carry usually determined how long it could stay in flight. Today, with aircraft being able to air refuel, the time they are able to stay aloft is based more on human needs, one being waste management. Voiding urine in a single-seat ejection seat aircraft has been an issue for male pilots in the past, but with the increasing numbers of female pilots in single-seat aircraft, finding a solution has intensified. This paper reviews the various methods that are available for both male and female pilots, including the newest method which allows the pilot to vacuum urine into a containment vessel. Future improvements in waste management will continue to progress with time and technology. While these may involve improving ways to urinate in the cockpit, they could also involve ways to perhaps slow the production of urine by the body. But for the present, pilots will have to select from a pool of the devices currently available.

Factors influencing low female representation in pilot training recruitment

In 2011 ICAO published a report about projected pilot and training capacity shortage (ICAO, 2011). To solve this problem, several studies have been carried out, and forecasts of the required number of pilots for the next 10–20 years are constantly being updated. Universities have begun introducing pilot training into their aviation courses, although only US airlines require a degree from the candidates to work as a pilot. The leading providers of pilot training facilities and industry observers argue that even with severe flight restrictions due to COVID-19, the shortage of pilots and quality pilot training remains a major concern. There is a trend of under-representation of females in the pilot roles. Some researchers and aviation industry experts assume that more women should be recruited into the profession to address the pilot shortage.This paper explores the current key reasons for the low female representation in pilot training recruitment. In many studies, the problem of gender discrimination and societal stereotype that believes that the pilot is a purely male type of job are dominant among the negative ones. The authors investigated whether these factors are seen as predominant in women's career decisions in aviation. A qualitative study was conducted utilising the semi-structured in-depth interview of nine female pilots from Europe, Australia and UK. A transcript based content analysis was done using Nvivo. Further, the triangulation method was utilized to verify the results of the study.The main findings from this research show that, in addition to the high cost of training and the tendency of airlines to shift financial obligations for training to students, the hiring of pilots continues to suffer from gender inequality. Reasons such as “Lack of role models for young girls and women in aviation”, “Cultural sexism” and “Lack of acceptance from male peers and passengers” continue to hinder the promotion of the pilot profession among women. Multiple organisations and airlines have initiatives in place to mitigate the problems connected with pilot training and hiring. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is controversial, as the number of female pilots has seen hardly any growth in the past ten years. Furthermore, they may be responsible in future for creating an even more “gender-unequal” culture inside the industry, as women will be seen in their roles only due to gender recruitment requirement. All stakeholders, including universities that choose to participate in the pilot training process, could help rethink the principles of gender balance, increasing the visibility of their initiatives and raising public awareness of the availability of pilot training and career prospects for women.The article presents the theoretical and practical implications of the reasons for low female representation in pilot training recruitment.

Gender Discrimination in the Flight Deck: An Analysis on the Experiences of Ab-initio Pilots

Gender-related issues among pilots are increasingly recognized as a serious, worldwide safety concern. A considerable amount of literature has been published on gender discrimination in commercial aviation and general aviation. However, to the best of authors’ knowledge, no research has been found that examined the gender-related issues among ab-initio pilots in Turkey. The aim of this research project has therefore been to investigate the gender discrimination among ab-initio pilots. With consideration in mind, a survey was developed by using previously published two questionnaires in the field of gender-related issues in aviation and conducted to collect data. By the end of the survey period, data had been collected from 104 ab-initio pilots. The independent sample t-test was employed to analyze the results of the survey. It has been concluded that female ab-initio pilots face gender discrimination. Furthermore, it has been found that there was no significant difference in difficulties faced during the training due to gender-related issues between male and female ab-initio pilots. The results of this study provided an understanding on gender-related issues among ab-initio pilots. The findings of this study may provide important implications in the field of crew resource management training for ab-initio pilots and increase overall safety in aviation

Healthcare related aversion and care seeking patterns of female aviators in the United States

Diagnosis of a new medical condition in pilots may precipitate the end of an aviation career or hobby. For this reason, a barrier exists for pilots to seek medical care due to fear of losing an aeromedical certificate. Females represent a growing proportion of pilots in the United States and data on healthcare seeking behavior in this cohort is sparse. We conducted an anonymous online survey of 154 female pilots and 131 female non-pilots in the United States. 83.7% of female pilots have experienced healthcare related aversion compared to 27.5% of non-pilots. 66.7% of female pilots had withheld information from a physician while 46.0% had delayed or forwent medical care due to concern for their medical status. Further studies should be conducted to inform policy change to address pilot healthcare barriers.

An examination of consumer bias against female and minority commercial pilots

Several studies have examined biases towards gender and ethnic minorities in professional settings, such as medical practices, academia, and aviation. Our research aims to understand consumers' attitudes towards ethnic minorities and female pilots. A better understanding of the impact of customers' perceptions on these minority groups could improve commercial flight operations and support increasing air travel demands. Specifically, this study investigated consumer perceptions of gender and ethnic bias towards commercial airline pilots and flight students in the United States. In a two-experiment design, participants in Study 1 viewed pictures of current female and male commercial pilots of various races. Participants then rated their opinions on the quality of the pilot (e.g. professionalism, flight safety, smoothness of flight, and their confidence in the pilot). In Study 2, participants viewed pictures of student pilots and rated the individual's likeliness to succeed in flight training. The results indicated that participants favored White male pilots in all conditions and that female and ethnic pilots were generally viewed as less favorable. These findings suggest that overt biases are present towards pilots with implications demonstrating that biases influence the hiring processes for female and minority pilots.

Female Vs Male Pilots In WW2

Female Vs Male Pilots In WW2

Rovnosť pohlaví v sektore civilného letectva a postavenie žien-obchodných pilotiek

This article deals with the issue of the position of women in civil aviation sector regarding gender equality in the position of commercial pilot. The article is focused on the position of women and men in aviation sector form the position of equality in achieving of education, but also in the subsequent employment in the labour market in the Slovak Republic and in the world. The aviation market is currently probably the sector most affected by the crisis caused by the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. The projected demand for air transport and the associated increase in the need for new skilled workers has turned into a precarious situation for all aviation workers within one year. The aim of the article is to compare the situation in the field of education of men and women as well as their subsequent employment as a commercial pilot in the Slovak Republic and in the world, but also to compare equality of access to education and subsequent applicability in the labour market in general. The aim of the article was to show whether the situation in the field of gender equality in the aviation sector is the same as in other sectors, or whether we still face discrimination today. The results of the article clearly showed that the employment of pilots on the labour market in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic is not in percentage terms at the same level as the percentage of female pilots who received university and academic education in the field of study professional pilot.

Malignancy in U.S. Air Force fighter pilots and other officers, 1986-2017: A retrospective cohort study.

ObjectiveThis study sought to determine the incidence rates of cancer, overall and by site, among active component U.S. Air Force fighter pilots, and to compare the rates with those in other active component Air Force officers.MethodsUsing a matched retrospective cohort design, U.S. Air Force fighter pilots were compared with other commissioned officers who entered active component service between 1 January 1986 and 31 December 2006. The cohort was followed for cancer diagnoses in TRICARE and the Veterans Health Administration from 1 October 1995 through 31 December 2017. Fighter pilots and non-fighter pilot officers were compared after matching on sex, age at first observation (15 age groups), and age at last observation (15 age groups). Sex-stratified overall and site-specific cancer rates were compared with matched Poisson regression to determine incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsDuring 1,412,590 person-years of follow-up, among the study population of 88,432 service members (4,949 fighter pilots and 83,483 matched officers), 977 incident cancer cases were diagnosed (86 in fighter pilots and 891 in matched officers). Male fighter pilots and matched officers had similar rates of all malignant cancers (RR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.83–1.31) and of each cancer site. Female fighter pilots and matched officers also had similar rates of all malignant cancers (RR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.25–4.04).DiscussionIn the active component U.S. Air Force, fighter pilots and their officer peers had similar overall and site-specific cancer rates.

Life of Females in Pakistani Aviation: Assessing the Relationship of Work-Family Conflict With Stress and Job Satisfaction

This research analyzes how work-family conflict affects the job performance and job stress of women working in Pakistani aviation. Work-family conflict can be considered an important topic of study in a collectivist culture like Pakistan. A woman is considered a homemaker and tends to operate in allegiance to her family. Therefore, given aviation jobs nature, it is significant to study how women thrive in them. A survey of 200 questionnaires was distributed to female pilots, air hostesses and ground staff. Linear regression and correlation were used to test the hypothesis. A positive correlation was found between work-family, job stress, and job performance. The directing impact of organization support debilitates the connection between work-family conflict and job performance, but it has no moderating role in job stress. Further, the moderating role of collectivist culture was studied, which showed that it weakens the connection between job performance and work-family conflict. However, it has no critical impact on job stress. This research will help supervisors in improving employee organization relationships. It will also help the organizations design the policies and incentives to help female employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Adversity in Aviation: Understanding Resilience in the Workplace for Female Pilots

ABSTRACT Objective: This study measured the resilience of female pilots using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Background: Adversity in the workplace causes occupational stress, influencing resiliency, and reducing job performance and wellness. This can lead to burnout and attrition. Female pilots in male-dominated work environments experience adversity, resulting in occupational stress. Resilience may be a mitigating factor for coping with occupational stress. Women in male-dominated professions remain the extreme minority. Further, a severe pilot shortage magnifies the need to recruit and retain pilots from underrepresented groups. Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to validate the use of the CD-RISC for measuring resilience in female pilots. Inter- and intra-group resilience score comparisons of the 1,302 female pilots were analyzed. Results: An abridged version of the CD-RISC was found applicable to measuring resilience in female pilots. Age and work experience of the female pilots imply that they may influence higher resilience. A significantly lower resilience score was found in the sample in comparison to a national sample average resilience score. Conclusion: Female pilots’ resilience is likely influenced by workplace adversity, which may lead to increased occupation stress, greater attrition, and fewer pilot entrants. Interventions aimed at increasing the resiliency of female pilots are critical to solving the pilot shortage. The findings provide insight into the recruitment, retention, and development of women in male-dominated occupations.

Gender in the cockpit: Challenges faced by female airline pilots

Despite the increasing number of female pilots in recent years, the aviation industry is still considered a male-dominated one. Being underrepresented in an occupation and working in an industry with masculine discourses create several challenges for female pilots. This study aims to identify gender-related career challenges experienced by female pilots based in Turkey. The findings of the study reveal that female commercial airline pilots have been experiencing gender prejudice and discrimination in the workplace. These prejudices and discriminations place considerable psychological burden on them which can significantly affect their behaviour and performance. Considering the findings of the study, several recommendations are given to the airline companies and the society in supporting female pilots’ career advancement.

Potential Augmented Reality Application Areas for Pilot Education: An Exploratory Study

The goal of carrying out this work was to identify potential application areas for augmented reality (AR) in pilot education by addressing gender preferences. Like the field of engineering, the aviation industry is dominated by men. Because the aviation industry forecasts a high demand for pilots, it is highly desirable to address gender diversity and improve teaching methods in pilot education. In this study, potential application areas for AR-supported pilot training were investigated by conducting a survey with 60 pilots and flight instructors (including 12 women). Typical AR use cases were presented in videos, and the pilots reported their preferences regarding similar or other AR applications used in different parts of the flight training program. AR navigation was the use case that was most frequently preferred by both female and male pilots. The majority of pilots agreed that AR could potentially be used in theoretical instruction, pre-flight aircraft inspection, and procedure training. In addition, both gender groups showed similar preferences for various gaming concepts that make learning more interesting and engaging, such as receiving positive feedback. However, a higher percentage of women than men reported that achieving a target or receiving points to successfully finish a task and answering questions during the game were satisfying. Including a story in the game to attract attention was preferred by a higher percentage of men than women. The results of this study can be used to design AR educational concepts that support gender diversity in pilot education and other technical domains.