One Size Does Not Fit All: Removing Unnecessary Barriers to Entry in the Pilot Community
Abstract
One of the challenges the United States Air Force (USAF) faces in the pilot career field is a lack of female representation. The current USAF pilot height requirements eliminate approximately 55 percent of the female population from pilot qualification. Individuals who do not meet the generalized height requirements must apply for a waiver, which would qualify them to pilot a specific set of aircraft based on anthropometric compatibility standards. If the USAF implemented tailored standards as policy instead of the exception, it could eliminate the need for anthropometric waivers and increase the qualified female pilot candidate pool. This research focuses on cadet motivation to pursue careers as USAF pilots. The purpose of this research is to determine how gender and height affect motivation to pursue a pilot career. A survey methodology was employed to answer the research question: How do the current Flying Class I height requirements affect motivation of USAF cadets to pursue careers as USAF pilots? The survey results showed that both gender and height help predict motivation. These results support the claim that changing the USAF height requirements policy could increase the motivation of women to become pilots.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1055439
Entities
People
- Taylor S. Rigollet
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology