Women in Aviation: The Facts

Women have been involved in aviation since its earliest days. From E. Lillian Todd, who designed and built aircraft in 1906 to Helen Richey, who became the first woman pilot for a U.S. commercial airline in 1934, woman have assumed a variety of roles in the industry. At the close of the 20th century, Astronaut Eileen Collins became the first female Space Shuttle Commander.

During the last two decades, the number of women involved in the aviation industry has steadily increased and women can be found in nearly every aviation occupation today. However, the numbers are small by comparison. Women pilots, for example, represent only six percent of the total pilot population.

At the first Annual International Women in Aviation Conference in 1990, participants recognized the need for more women in the industry and for a support group to serve as mentors, advisors and interested colleagues. Following a number of successful conferences, Women in Aviation, International (WAI) was established as a professional, non-profit organization in 1994 to address those needs.

Today, WAI has more than 6,000 members worldwide, including aviation professionals, students and enthusiasts. Women and men from all segments of the industry, including general, corporate and commercial aviation, education, government and the military, are eligible for WAI membership.

Due to a strong commitment in promoting women in the aviation industry, WAI has gained wide recognition. This recognition is evident from partnerships with NASA, the FAA and other organizations.

You can make a difference by joining Women in Aviation, International today!


Current Statistics of Women in Aviation Careers in U.S.

 

Pilots
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

All Women 
590,349Pilots (total)35,7846.06%
84,339Students9,55911.33%
239Recreational177.11%
2031Sport643.15%
211,096Private*13,6946.49%
115,127Commercial*7,1016.17%
143,953Airline Transport*5,3493.72%
12,290Rotorcraft (only)NANA
21,274Glider (only)NANA
92,175Flight Instructors**6,2326.76%
* Includes pilots with an airplane only certificate. Also includes those with an airplane and a helicopter and/or glider certificate. For example, if a pilots holds a private airplane certificate and a commercial helicopter certificate, the pilot would be categorized as commercial.
** Not included in total pilots.

 

Non-Pilots
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

All Women 
666,559NonPilot (total)138,45220.77%
322,852Mechanic*6,5242.02%
40,277Repairmen*2,1935.44%
8,186Parachute Rigger*5947.26%
74,544Ground Instructor*5,7267.68%
19,043Dispatcher*3,08716.21%
250Flight Navigator10.40%
147,013Flight Attendant118,42680.55%
54,394Flight Engineer1,9013.49%
* Numbers represent all certificates on record. No medical examination required.

 

Pilots (Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 
Student9,55911.33%9,64011.36%9,71711.14%9,85711.21%9,89711.34%10,08211.72%10,23011.80%10,80911.61%11,19111.49%11,28911.55%11,21711.67%11,63212.25%
Recreational177.11%177.11%207.19%217.22%247.74%237.26%206.33%267.65%257.29%247.87%227.75%207.55%
Sport643.15%262.77%75.22%NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 
Private13,6946.49%14,1116.44%14,5176.35%15,0366.37%15,4876.42%15,9066.49%13,8945.70%14,5545.79%15,1715.86%14,1525.72%14,2575.76%14,8685.85%
Commercial7,1016.17%7,2366.15%7,3156.06%7,4216.05%7,4366.00%7,4545.92%5,9324.92%5,8074.77%5,7204.60%5,3664.40%5,3924.30%5,4954.25%
Airline Transport5,3493.72%5,0713.57%5,0083.53%4,9083.45%4,8503.38%4,7923.31%4,6303.20%4,4113.12%4,1263.00%3,8482.86%3,5722.73%3,3462.62%
Flight Instructor*6,2326.76%6,1586.74%6,0676.70%5,9706.66%5,8116.62%5,6676.58%5,3866.50%5,1936.42%5,0286.31%4,9266.22%4,7636.10%4,6675.94%
Total35,7846.06%36,1016.05%36,5846.00%37,2436.02%37,6946.03%38,2576.06%34,7065.67%35,6075.69%36,2335.70%34,6795.61%34,4605.59%35,3615.68%
* Not included in total pilots.

 

Pilots (Men and Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Student84,339 84,866 87,213 87,910 87,296 85,991 86,731 93,064 97,359 97,736 96,101 94,947
Recreational239 239 278 291 310 317 316 340 343 305 284 265
Sport2,031 939 134 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Private211,096 219,233 228,619 235,994 241,045 245,230 243,823 251,561 258,749 247,226 247,604 254,002
Commercial115,127 117,610 120,614 122,592 123,990 125,920 120,502 121,858 124,261 122,053 125,300 129,187
Airline Transport143,953 141,935 141,992 142,160 143,504 144,708 144,702 141,596 137,642 134,612 130,858 127,486
Rotorcraft (only)12,290 10,690 9,518 8,586 7,916 7,770 7,727 7,775 7,728 6,964 6,801 6,961
Glider (only)21,274 21,597 21,369 21,100 20,950 21,826 8,473 9,387 9,390 9,402 9,394 9,413
Flight Instructor*92,175 91,343 90,555 89,596 87,816 86,089 82,875 80,931 79,694 79,171 78,102 78,551
Total590,349 597,109 609,737 618,633 625,011 631,762 612,274 625,581 635,472 618,298 616,342 622,261
* Not included in total pilots.

 

Non-Pilot (Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 
NonPilot (total)138,45220.77%128,19219.53%119,85018.61%18,6663.62%18,0303.54%17,6123.42%17,1143.34%16,5523.02%15,6622.91%15,3802.80%14,5622.69%13,9092.60%
Mechanic*6,5242.02%6,3451.96%6,1521.92%5,9321.87%5,7341.83%5,5591.76%5,2951.70%5,0471.47%4,7221.39%4,4831.33%4,1971.26%4,0191.22%
Repairmen*2,1935.44%2,1805.41%2,1085.27%2,0395.20%1,8004.83%1,7224.64%1,7894.46%1,7044.46%1,5824.40%1,9403.67%1,8613.60%1,7523.45%
Parachute Rigger*5947.26%5847.08%5566.82%5406.74%5216.61%5006.20%4755.99%5094.86%4944.73%4834.62%4644.49%4414.29%
Ground Instructor*5,7267.68%5,6697.57%5,6127.55%5,5007.46%5,3857.41%5,3217.22%5,1697.15%5,1547.13%5,0167.04%4,9046.97%4,7586.86%4,6526.78%
Dispatcher*3,08716.21%2,93415.77%2,80515.52%2,64715.13%2,52014.86%2,41014.44%2,26214.08%2,06212.62%1,89512.10%1,72911.68%1,55711.15%1,41110.63%
Flight Navigator10.40%10.38%10.34%10.30%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%00.00%
Flight Attendant**118,42680.55%108,55980.49%100,63080.48%NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 
Flight Engineer1,9013.49%1,9203.43%1,9863.44%2,0073.38%2,0703.36%2,1003.30%2,1243.25%2,0763.19%1,9533.06%1,8412.89%1,7252.76%1,6342.66%
* Numbers represent all certificates on record. No medical examination required.
** 2005 was the first year the Registry reported Flight Attendants.

 

Non-Pilot (Men and Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2007 data)

 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
NonPilot (total)666,559 656,227 644,016 515,293 509,835 515,570 513,100 547,453 538,264 549,588 540,892 534,427
Mechanic*322,852 323,097 320,293 317,111 313,032 315,928 310,850 344,434 340,402 336,670 332,254 329,239
Repairmen*40,277 40,329 40,030 39,231 37,248 37,114 40,085 38,208 35,989 52,909 51,643 50,768
Parachute Rigger*8,186 8,252 8,150 8,011 7,883 8,063 7,927 10,477 10,447 10,459 10,336 10,269
Ground Instructor*74,544 74,849 74,378 73,735 72,692 73,658 72,261 72,326 71,238 70,334 69,366 68,573
Dispatcher*19,043 18,610 18,079 17,493 16,955 16,695 16,070 16,340 15,655 14,804 13,967 13,272
Flight Navigator250 264 298 336 382 431 509 570 642 712 782 847
Flight Attendant**147,013 134,874 125,032 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Flight Engineer54,394 55,952 57,756 59,376 61,643 63,681 65,398 65,098 63,891 63,700 62,544 61,459
* Numbers represent all certificates on record. No medical examination required.
** 2005 was the first year the Registry reported Flight Attendants.