Why Are There So Few African American Air Force Pilots?

The U.S. Air Force has fewer than 300 active-duty Black pilots, and one just quit. Here's why.

Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 11:35 AM ET

Verified

Lt. Col. Charles Gilliam, 14th Student Squadron Director of Operations, poses for a photo with Capt. D. L. Booker, 14th Student Squadron Flight Commander, 1st Lt. Tim Jefferson Jr., 14th Operations Support Squadron Chief of Wing Airspace, and Maj. Brandon Jones, 14th Student Squadron Flight Commander, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, February 1. [Courtesy: Columbus Air Force Base]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force continues to have a significant underrepresentation of Black pilots, with only 2 percent of active-duty pilots being Black, despite a rich legacy including the Tuskegee Airmen.
A Department of the Air Force Inspector General review revealed systemic racial disparities in military discipline, career advancement opportunities, and trust in leadership among Black service members.
Black aviators like Major Daniel Walker recount personal experiences of racial bias and pressure to conform, underscoring persistent cultural challenges that echo issues faced by previous generations.
In response to these findings and calls for change, the Air Force has initiated various programs and policy reforms aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing systemic barriers to equitable career progression.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series celebrating Black History Month through aviation: Feb. 1: African American Pioneers in Flight and Space | Feb. 4: Legacy Flying Academy | Feb. 10: Why Aren’t There More Black Pilots in the Air Force? | Feb. 11: Jesse L. Brown | Feb. 15: Meet Four African Americans Making a Difference in Aviation | Feb. 18: From “Hidden Figures” to “Artemis” | Feb. 22: CMSAF Kaleth O. Wright | Feb. 25: Cal Poly Humboldt

By the time U.S. Air Force Major Daniel Walker climbed into the cockpit of a F-22 fighter jet for the first time, he was already taking off into the wind, buoyed by family legacy.