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 significantly underrepresented in aviation maintenance, making up only 2.62 percent of certificated mechanics, despite a critical industry shortage that women could help fill.
Stacey Rudser, a director for the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) and a member of the FAA's Women in Aviation Advisory Board, actively champions strategies to increase female recruitment and retention.
Key challenges hindering women's participation include a discriminatory work culture, inflexible schedules, and a lack of awareness about aviation maintenance as a viable career path.
AWAM addresses these barriers through scholarships that cover tuition, tools, and training, alongside mentorship programs and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to create a more supportive environment.

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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.