Women in Aviation, International

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 14,000 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, 2005 data)

All		Women
609,737	Pilots (total)	36,584	6.00%
87,213	Students	9,717	11.14%
278	Recreational	20	7.19%
134	Sport	7	5.22%
228,619	Private*	14,517	6.35%
120,614	Commercial*	7,315	6.06%
141,992	Airline Transport*	5,008	3.53%
9,518	Rotorcraft (only)	NA	NA
21,369	Glider (only)	NA	NA
90,555	Flight Instructors**	6,067	6.70%
* 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, 2005 data)

All		Women
644,016	NonPilot (total)	119,850	18.61%
320,293	Mechanic*	6,152	1.92%
40,030	Repairmen*	2,108	5.27%
8,150	Parachute Rigger*	556	6.82%
74,378	Ground Instructor*	5,612	7.55%
18,079	Dispatcher*	2,805	15.52%
298	Flight Navigator	1	0.34%
125,032	Flight Attendant**	100,630	80.48%
57,756	Flight Engineer	1,986	3.44%
* Numbers represent all certificates on record. No medical examination required.
** 2005 was the first year the Registry reported Flight Attendants.

Pilots (Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2005 data)

	2005		2004		2003		2002		2001		2000		1999		1998		1997		1996
Student	9,717	11.14%	9,857	11.21%	9,897	11.34%	10,082	11.72%	10,230	11.80%	10,809	11.61%	11,191	11.49%	11,289	11.55%	11,217	11.67%	11,632	12.25%
Recreational	20	7.19%	21	7.22%	24	7.74%	23	7.26%	20	6.33%	26	7.65%	25	7.29%	24	7.87%	22	7.75%	20	7.55%
Sport	7	5.22%	NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA
Private	14,517	6.35%	15,036	6.37%	15,487	6.42%	15,906	6.49%	13,894	5.70%	14,554	5.79%	15,171	5.86%	14,152	5.72%	14,257	5.76%	14,868	5.85%
Commercial	7,315	6.06%	7,421	6.05%	7,436	6.00%	7,454	5.92%	5,932	4.92%	5,807	4.77%	5,720	4.60%	5,366	4.40%	5,392	4.30%	5,495	4.25%
Airline Transport	5,008	3.53%	4,908	3.45%	4,850	3.38%	4,792	3.31%	4,630	3.20%	4,411	3.12%	4,126	3.00%	3,848	2.86%	3,572	2.73%	3,346	2.62%
Flight Instructor*	6,067	6.70%	5,970	6.66%	5,811	6.62%	5,667	6.58%	5,386	6.50%	5,193	6.42%	5,028	6.31%	4,926	6.22%	4,763	6.10%	4,667	5.94%
Total	36,584	6.00%	37,243	6.02%	37,694	6.03%	38,257	6.06%	34,706	5.67%	35,607	5.69%	36,233	5.70%	34,679	5.61%	34,460	5.59%	35,361	5.68%
* Not included in total pilots.

Pilots (Men and Women)
Source: FAA's Aeronautical Center (December 31st, 2005 data)

	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996
Student	87,213	87,910	87,296	85,991	86,731	93,064	97,359	97,736	96,101	94,947
Recreational	278	291	310	317	316	340	343	305	284	265
Sport	134	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Private	228,619	235,994	241,045	245,230	243,823	251,561	258,749	247,226	247,604	254,002
Commercial	120,614	122,592	123,990	125,920	120,502	121,858	124,261	122,053	125,300	129,187
Airline Transport	141,992	142,160	143,504	144,708	144,702	141,596	137,642	134,612	130,858	127,486
Rotorcraft (only)	9,518	8,586	7,916	7,770	7,727	7,775	7,728	6,964	6,801	6,961
Glider (only)	21,369	21,100	20,950	21,826	8,473	9,387	9,390	9,402	9,394	9,413
Flight Instructor*	90,555	89,596	87,816	86,089	82,875	80,931	79,694	79,171	78,102	78,551
Total	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, 2005 data)

	2005		2004		2003		2002		2001		2000		1999		1998		1997		1996
NonPilot (total)	119,850	18.61%	18,666	3.62%	18,030	3.54%	17,612	3.42%	17,114	3.34%	16,552	3.02%	15,662	2.91%	15,380	2.80%	14,562	2.69%	13,909	2.60%
Mechanic*	6,152	1.92%	5,932	1.87%	5,734	1.83%	5,559	1.76%	5,295	1.70%	5,047	1.47%	4,722	1.39%	4,483	1.33%	4,197	1.26%	4,019	1.22%
Repairmen*	2,108	5.27%	2,039	5.20%	1,800	4.83%	1,722	4.64%	1,789	4.46%	1,704	4.46%	1,582	4.40%	1,940	3.67%	1,861	3.60%	1,752	3.45%
Parachute Rigger*	556	6.82%	540	6.74%	521	6.61%	500	6.20%	475	5.99%	509	4.86%	494	4.73%	483	4.62%	464	4.49%	441	4.29%
Ground Instructor*	5,612	7.55%	5,500	7.46%	5,385	7.41%	5,321	7.22%	5,169	7.15%	5,154	7.13%	5,016	7.04%	4,904	6.97%	4,758	6.86%	4,652	6.78%
Dispatcher*	2,805	15.52%	2,647	15.13%	2,520	14.86%	2,410	14.44%	2,262	14.08%	2,062	12.62%	1,895	12.10%	1,729	11.68%	1,557	11.15%	1,411	10.63%
Flight Navigator	1	0.34%	1	0.30%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%
Flight Attendant**	100,630	80.48%	NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA		NA
Flight Engineer	1,986	3.44%	2,007	3.38%	2,070	3.36%	2,100	3.30%	2,124	3.25%	2,076	3.19%	1,953	3.06%	1,841	2.89%	1,725	2.76%	1,634	2.66%
* 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, 2005 data)

	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996
NonPilot (total)	644,016	515,293	509,835	515,570	513,100	547,453	538,264	549,588	540,892	534,427
Mechanic*	320,293	317,111	313,032	315,928	310,850	344,434	340,402	336,670	332,254	329,239
Repairmen*	40,030	39,231	37,248	37,114	40,085	38,208	35,989	52,909	51,643	50,768
Parachute Rigger*	8,150	8,011	7,883	8,063	7,927	10,477	10,447	10,459	10,336	10,269
Ground Instructor*	74,378	73,735	72,692	73,658	72,261	72,326	71,238	70,334	69,366	68,573
Dispatcher*	18,079	17,493	16,955	16,695	16,070	16,340	15,655	14,804	13,967	13,272
Flight Navigator	298	336	382	431	509	570	642	712	782	847
Flight Attendant**	125,032	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Flight Engineer	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.

Other Data

FAA Employees
Source: FAA Office of Civil Rights

Total	Women
40,941 FAA Employees	11,934 (24.38%)
3,608 Safety Inspectors	254 (7.04%)
939 Security Specialists	324 (35.50%)

Military
Source: U.S. Department of Defense
Navy, Air Force, Guards/Reserve ***

Total	Women
27,125 Fixed Wing Pilots	690 (2.54%)
20.487 Helicopter Pilots	795 (3.88%)
11,341 Aircraft Crews	339 (2.99%)
*** Includes active duty, warrants and commissioned officers.

NASA Employees
Source: National Aeronautics & Space Administration

Total	Women
18,062 Workforce	5,892 (32.62%)
10,534 Scientists and Engineers	1,853 (17.59%)
154 Astronauts	36 (23.38%)