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The aviation industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but in recent years, women have been making strides in breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations. While women have been involved in aviation from the beginnings of both lighter-than air travel and as airplanes, helicopters and space travel were developed, women pilots have been flying powered aircrafts since around 1908; prior to 1970, however, most were restricted to working privately or in support roles in the aviation industry.
This Women’s Day, it’s important to recognize the fast-growing aviation companies that are making a positive impact in the industry and providing opportunities for women. In the aviation industry, recruitment and consultancy companies are overall leading the way in supporting women in aviation and promoting opportunities for women.
Looking back at the history of women on this special time of the year, Women in Aviation International (WAI) was founded in 1990 and has since grown to over 15,000 active members as of 2023. The organization’s mission is to provide networking, education, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities for women in the aviation industry. This year, WAI held its annual conference in Long Beach, California, which brought together women from all corners of the industry to discuss and promote gender diversity and inclusion.
Various organizations are sponsoring WAI, including Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Embraer is a strong advocate for gender diversity and has made significant strides in recent years to promote opportunities for women in aviation.
The Women in Aviation – Middle East Chapter will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the chapter will hold a one-day conference at the Dubai Airport Show in May. The event will provide an opportunity for women in aviation to showcase their achievements, network with others in the industry, and promote gender diversity and inclusion.
“Events like these are critical for advancing the cause of gender diversity in aviation. By creating a platform for women to connect and share their experiences, the industry can begin to break down the barriers that have historically kept women from entering and advancing in the field,” Alison D’Souza, CEO of Aerviva commented.
Overall though, we must still understand that despite the progress that has been made, the aviation industry still lacks gender diversity. Women account for less than 10% of the industry as a whole, a statistic that is particularly stark in light of the critical shortage of skilled aviation professionals. And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage industries worldwide, the aviation industry is facing a significant talent shortage. According to recent reports, airlines and aerospace companies are experiencing an unprecedented surge in hiring across various roles and locations. Despite the pandemic’s economic challenges, the aviation industry is now seeing a considerable increase in recruitment needs for pilots, cabin crew, customer service representatives, engineers, IT specialists, production staff, and quality control personnel. As a fast-growing recruitment and consultancy firm, one such company mentioned earlier, Aerviva, strives to promote women for all these roles to bridge the gender gap in the industry. The company places professionals in a range of roles, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and technicians.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s important to recognize the progress that has been made in promoting gender diversity in aviation. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women have equal opportunities to succeed in the industry. By supporting these fast-growing aviation companies and others who give women equal opportunities in the workforce, we can help ensure that the industry continues to make progress in creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce and society for everyone overall!
