Women in Aviation Advisory Board Gives the FAA ‘A Flight Plan for the Future’

The plan calls for a systems approach to remove a web of barriers for women in aviation.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 11:36 AM ET

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Members of the Women in Aviation Advisory Board celebrate fellow WIAAB member Stacey Rudser (top row, third from right) following her public naming as president of the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance at the recent Women in Aviation International conference. [Courtesy: Rebecca Lutte]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB) presented its "Flight Plan for the Future," highlighting how the current aviation industry is not designed for women, leading to significant gender disparities and high attrition rates, especially when women face work-life balance challenges.
The WIAAB identified systemic barriers for women in aviation, including a pervasive negative workplace culture characterized by discrimination, implicit bias, and sexual harassment, as well as economic factors and a lack of support for retention and advancement.
The report provides 55 recommendations to address these barriers, focusing on cultural changes (e.g., inclusive language, anti-harassment programs), improved retention (e.g., paid parental leave, childcare, flexible schedules), enhanced recruitment, and better gender-specific data collection to ensure women's full participation in the industry.

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Crystal Barrois, manager of aircraft transactions and an A320 first officer for Delta Air Lines, narrated the different stories of two young girls with a passion for aviation Monday during the final meeting of the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB).

In the first story, Barrois describes an aviation industry that is not designed for, nor friendly to women—and a greater society ill-equipped to support girls and women who have a passion for flight. Despite the challenges, this woman sticks with it because she loves to fly, Barrois said. The story ends when the woman, now an airline pilot, has a child. Unable to balance the responsibilities of work and caregiving, and feeling overwhelmed, alone, and unsupported, she gives up her years of hard work and leaves the industry “because it’s just too hard,” Barrois said.