Discrimination, harassment, finances are main barriers facing women in aviation: FAA advisory report

Male-dominated culture, widespread sexual harassment and discrimination, financial barriers to career entry and lack of gender-specific support systems are main reasons women remain significantly underrepresented in aviation and aerospace. Those are the primary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB) final report, published on 30 March. “Talent necessary to meet the current and growing demands of US aviation is falling woefully behind,” the 84-page report reads. “Further, to a great extent because of its shuttered culture, the US aviation industry has been largely unsuccessful in meaningfully attracting women. Those who do persist in aviation careers often are not granted similar opportunities, and leave in more-significant numbers. The under-representation of women in aviation impacts the industry’s advancement, effectiveness and safety.” WIAAB, which was established by Congress through the FAA’s 2018 funding bill, first met in 2020. It was tasked with analysing reasons for low female representation in the industry – less than 20% across most aviation careers – and with recommending how to raise that number. The starkest gender gaps are in senior leadership positions and among professional pilots and maintenance technicians. The two years’ work by 30 aviation professionals culminated in 55 proposals for the FAA, the US DOT, Congress and the industry at large.<br/>