Certificated AMTs: What Will Encourage More Women to Become Aviation Maintenance Technicians?

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

This paper examines practices that are used in STEM fields to attract women in order to understand how those tactics may to entice women to join the ranks of certified AMTs. According to the FAA, the estimated active mechanic certificates held as of December 31, 2018 was 292,002. Of those 292,002 it is estimated that 7,133 or 2.4% were held by women. In 2009, there were 329,027 active mechanics certificates held and 6,980 or 2.1% were held by women. There was steady growth of certificated women mechanics from 2009 through 2015 – growing from 2.1% to 2.5% respectively. In 2016, there was a drop to 2.3%. For 2017 and 18 the number remains at 2.4%. With the increased need for AMTs it is imperative to determine best practices for engaging women in aviation maintenance and STEAM fields. STEAM is only recently gaining traction as opposed to STEM, therefore there is not much data on aviation specifically with regard to women in the aviation maintenance fields. What is known is that in 2016, women earned more than 40% of bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and statistics and more than 20% of bachelor’s degrees in engineering. Conversely, in 2016, the number of certificated women aviation mechanics was 2.3%. What is drawing women to the fields of mathematics, statistics, and engineering? Can those practices be successful in attracting women to the field of aviation maintenance? Examining the tactics used in STEM disciplines may lead to successful practice to increase the number of women AMTs.

Author

• Rouscher, Gail Y., Ph.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• STEM
• women
• mechanics
• aviation maintenance
• Maintenance Technology
• Women's Studies