The airline industry is increasingly recognizing the potential of pilot career-path programs to tackle two significant challenges: the growing pilot shortage and the lack of diversity within flight decks. Airlines are actively exploring and investing in initiatives designed to cultivate a more diverse pilot workforce, starting from the ground up. Alaska Airlines, for example, has taken a proactive step by partnering with Sisters of the Skies, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in aviation, particularly among Black female pilots. This collaboration highlights a broader trend in the industry to tap into a wider talent pool and ensure a more inclusive future for aviation.
The current landscape of aviation reveals a stark reality: while the professionalism of pilots is unquestionable, diversity is notably lacking. Statistics reveal that Black female pilots represent a minuscule fraction – approximately one half of one percent – of all professional pilots across the entire industry. For Alaska Airlines, despite its commitment to reflecting the diverse communities it serves, this statistic serves as a stark reminder of the significant strides still needed. Currently, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employ only four Black female pilots combined, representing about 1 percent of their pilot workforce. This underrepresentation underscores a critical question: What are the barriers preventing more women of color from entering and thriving in pilot careers?
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The challenge isn’t a lack of qualified candidates currently available for immediate hiring; rather, it’s the absence of a substantial pipeline of qualified Black women pilots ready to enter the industry. Building this pipeline is a long-term endeavor that requires dedicated effort and resources. Captain Tara Wright of Alaska Airlines, also a director at Sisters of the Skies, dedicates her time to inspiring women of color to consider aviation careers. She emphasizes the need for robust support systems to demonstrate to young women of color that aviation is indeed a viable and attainable career path for them. Recounting a conversation with a high school student, Captain Wright highlighted outdated perceptions about vision requirements as just one example of misinformation that can deter young women from pursuing their aviation dreams.
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Captain Wright herself made history alongside her co-pilot as the first all-female, Black pilot team in Alaska Airlines history on Mother’s Day, bringing greater visibility to the issue. She believes that significantly increasing the number of Black female pilots at Alaska Airlines would not only be a leading example for the industry but also a monumental achievement in addressing the existing disparities. With the looming commercial pilot shortage, cultivating talent from all communities is not just a matter of equity but also a strategic imperative for the industry’s future. Regardless of shortages, fostering a diverse workforce is crucial to creating an industry where opportunity is accessible to everyone.
Captain Will Mcquillen, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Master Executive Council at Alaska Airlines, echoes this sentiment. He emphasizes that ensuring Alaska Airlines’ continued success in a competitive environment hinges on hiring the most capable candidates. Diversity, he states, is an integral component of achieving this goal, and he welcomes the partnership with Sisters of the Skies as a positive step forward.
The approach taken by Sisters of the Skies, focusing on mentorship, encouragement, exposure, and training to promote pilot diversity, aligns perfectly with Alaska Airlines’ own commitment to creating opportunities. This includes supporting current pilots through mentorship and creating pathways for future pilots through dedicated programs. Alaska Airlines is solidifying its pledge through concrete actions:
- Establishing support mechanisms to aid in the retention and career advancement of current Black female pilots within the company.
- Enhancing educational programs, mentorship initiatives, training opportunities, and scholarships for aspiring Black female pilots, from initial certification to Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification, through partnerships with organizations like Solo Flight Academy and Girls Rock Wings.
- Engaging with young people to spark interest in aviation and showcase role models through programs such as Alaska Airlines Aviation Day, the Michael P. Anderson program, and Amelia’s Club.
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First Officer Kim Ford of Alaska Airlines and a member of Sisters of the Skies, views these initiatives as essential steps and hopes they are just the beginning. She expresses pride in Alaska Airlines’ dedication to aerospace education, inspiring young people, and enhancing diversity within both Alaska and Horizon Air. Further, she underscores the importance of ongoing research to identify and dismantle barriers that women of color face in reaching the flight deck and achieving career success.
Captain Scott Day, who oversees Alaska Airlines’ pilot group, believes that the benefits of a diverse pilot workforce extend far beyond mere representation. He argues that pilots from varied backgrounds and experiences enrich the company as a whole. Drawing from his own training experience in Bethel, Alaska, he acknowledges the rigorous path to becoming a commercial pilot and expresses admiration for individuals from native communities who pursue aviation careers. He affirms his commitment to advancing diversity in the profession through the partnership with Sisters of the Skies.
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First Officer Ford encapsulates the broader impact of such initiatives, noting that as both a community member and an employee, she is drawn to companies that prioritize diversity. For her, a commitment to diversity signifies a workplace and a flight deck where she feels valued and proud to belong. This sentiment reflects a growing understanding within the airline industry: investing in pilot career-path programs that actively promote diversity is not just socially responsible, it’s also a strategic investment in the future of a thriving and representative aviation sector.
