An Investigation Into Factors Influencing Men and Women in Becoming Professional Pilots

Abstract

Increasing the number of and women pilots to meet future needs will require recruitmat efforts based on an understan* of h r s af fecting the choice to be a prohsional pilot. This study inw&gated the factors that might positively or negatively influence men and women choosing to become professional pilots usiug force-field analysis. In addition, it investigated whether the fixtors differ fbr women and men. Random samples of 300 female and 300 male professional pilots were sent a brainstormed list of 70 fbctors that might influence the choice to be a pilot. The list was developed fhnn the litmtm, focus groups and aviation experts. Subjects rated each factor in terms of whether it was a positive or negative influence and its strength. The overall response rate was 68%. Twenty of the hcbrs were reported as important to both men and women. Only one factor, cost of trainiog, was seen as a negative by both groups. Aoalyses of the 20 factors revealed that some of them are more important to men, while others are more important to women. Men appear to be influenced most by monetary reward, the technical and scientific nature of the owupation, the military career potentd, and the glamour and mystique of flying. Additionally, men fbund having same gender teachers and mentors more important than women. Women found fkctors such as exposure to and desire to choose a non-traditional work role, opposite gender mentors and role models, desire ~r a cuenging career, and to prove their personal abilities as more positive fbctors than men. Women also saw possibilities oftravel and flight instructor encouragement as more important factors.