The U.S. aviation industry has grown significantly in the last several decades, but existing literature identifies a gap between progress for the industry and representation of minorities. According t..
The U.S. aviation industry has grown significantly in the last several decades, but existing literature identifies a gap between progress for the industry and representation of minorities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, out of the 141,000 persons employed as either “aircraft pilots” or “flight engineers”, 2.6% were Black, 3.4% were Asian, and 2.2% were Hispanic or Latino, while 93.7% were White (BLS, 2019). What has yet to be investigated, however, is how that gap is perceived by students preparing to enter the aviation industry. This exploratory study examines the perceptions of collegiate aviation students, who represent the next generation of the aviation industry, and the impact race may have had on their choice to pursue an aeronautics or aeronautical science degree. Through interviews with students currently enrolled in aviation career degree programs, this case study provides insight into their perceptions of how race, if at all, plays a role in aviation education. Additionally, the authors consider the significance of these perceptions within the broader context of diversity in aviation education.
