Upward Mobility: The Civilian Pilot Training Program, War, and Society in the American Century
Abstract
Technology and progress are inextricably bound in the American mind. The airplane not only promised adventure, and faster travel, many viewed it as means to rise above socially imposed limits. The exponential growth of aviation during the 1920s could not be sustained following the economic collapse that ushered in the Great Depression. The early years of the 1930s proved particularly tough on private aviation, with the number of pilots and aircraft dropping sharply between 1929-1932. Although the number of pilots and aircraft manufactured slowly crept upward, the totals for each category had not yet returned to pre-1932 levels. The Roosevelt administrations Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) developed a plan to boost private aviation by sponsoring a pilot-training program that would be conducted through a cooperative between colleges and nearby flying schools. Beyond the economic-relief aspects of the program, the CAA felt the program would enhance national defense by creating a pool of pilots the nation could call on in case of emergency. President Roosevelt signed the Civilian Pilot Training Act in June 1939, creating a program of government-sponsored flight training for college-aged individuals. The legislation included provisions which allowed women and other minority groups to participate in the program. Social norms and discriminatory practices had previously limited the participation of women and minorities in aviation, but the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) helped to break down some of these barriers by providing them increased access to training at an affordable price. When World War II began, the exclusively white Army Air Forces (AAF) view of women and blacks mirrored that of greater American society.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1083716
Entities
People
- Renee E. Fontenet
Organizations
- Air University