The Status of Women Faculty in Four-Year Aviation Higher Education Programs

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the status of women's participation in full-time, non-engineering aviation baccalaureate programs in the United States. In addition, the involvement of women in academic aviation leadership positions (such as chair, dean, or director) was evaluated. Of 353 full-time aviation faculty members employed at 60 different aviation programs meeting the study'S criteria, 36 (10.1 %) were female. Eighty faculty were identified in academic leadership positions, and of these faculty leaders , 8 (10%) were women. These participation rates were found to be slightly higher than those found among the pilot population and in the aviation industry in general. The level of women's involvement in aviation higher education has increased in comparison to the findings of four out of five previous studies on this subject and has remained stable. The aviation industry has also shared in the increase in women participation , albeit on a much smaller scale. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (2006a) reported that although the number of total pilots has decreased during the past ten years, the number of women pilots has increased during the same period. Concurrently, the quantity of professional level (airline transport pilot or ATP) certificated female pilots has also been on the rise (FAA, 2006a). Further, more women enroll in collegiate aviation programs now than ever before (U.S. Department of Education , 1995; U.S. Department of Education, 2005b). Bowen (1990) suggested that the percentage of women pilot certificate holders closely matched the percentage of aviation faculty (p. 16). Therefore , the question remains, have these gains in aviation participation by women translated to similar gains in their membership among aviation higher education faculty? Have women successfully gained access to advanced positions in aviation departments, such as chair or dean? These factors are of particular concern, as the leadership and mentoring provided by women aviation faculty benefit the recruitment and retention of female students and fellow female aviation faculty (Luedtke, 1993, p. 78). This support structure is overtly an essential component of sustaining and increasing the number of women in the aviation industry.