Which Gender Are Better Pilots?

Despite the efforts of many airlines to recruit female pilots, female pilot percentages are still lower than men at most major US carriers. Even so, with Boeing estimating that the global aviation industry will need 800,000 pilots over the next 20 years, it’s not surprising that airlines are taking steps to increase the number of women in their ranks.

Which gender are better pilots?

The real barriers preventing women from becoming pilots are not only gender bias in flight operations, but also the cost of training. According to indigo cadet pilot program, Beth Poole, women who choose to become pilots often find that the cost of training – particularly the amount they have to pay out of their own pockets – can make it difficult to pursue their dream career.

In the UK, for example, it costs more than twice as much to train a woman as a man and women are less likely to go through training. That’s why Halleran says airlines in India are more successful at attracting women, with programs like subsidized training, maternity leave, and gender-neutral policies.

crash due to inattention and flawed decision-making

Studies have found that pilots are more likely to crash due to inattention and flawed decision-making than mishandling of the aircraft, but both sexes tend to have some degree of error. Researchers analyzed 144 general aviation accidents between 1983 and 1997.

The study modeled pilot-error accident rates using data from pilots of major US airlines, adjusting for age, experience (total flying hours), risk exposure (flying hours in the last 6 months), and employer. The accident rates of male and female airline pilots were not significantly different after adjusting for these factors.