Building Tomorrow’s Aviation Mechanic Workforce with Women

Sara Withrow

Tuesday, March 08, 2022 at 10:30 AM ET

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Stacey Rudser in her signature pink work boots. [Courtesy: Stacey Rudser]

Key Takeaways:

Women are critically underrepresented in aviation maintenance, making up only 2.62 percent of certificated mechanics, despite a projected industry deficit of 12,000 technicians by 2041.
Challenges for women entering and staying in the field include financial barriers to education, a lack of career awareness, inflexible work schedules, and a persistent culture of harassment and discrimination.
Leaders like Stacey Rudser and organizations such as the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) are actively working to address these issues.
Their efforts involve providing scholarships, establishing mentorship programs, increasing career visibility for young girls, and advocating for cultural change, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the industry.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series to mark Women’s History Month: March 1: Pioneers of Women’s Aviation | March 2: Carole Hopson | March 4: Martha King | March 8: Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance | March 11: The Air Race Classic | March 15: Sisters of the Skies | March 18: Women in Aviation Conference | March 22: Women In Aviation: The Numbers | March 22: The first graduating class of Air Force female pilots. | March 25: Bonny Simi of Joby Aviation | March 29: Top Female Difference Makers in Aviation

When Stacey Rudser graduated high school, she didn’t know what she wanted to do for a career. She waited tables and worked in customer service for a couple of years. Realizing time was slipping past and she needed to “grow up and do something,” Rudser found herself searching the internet for how to be an aircraft mechanic.