Gender Discrimination Costs Aviation Its Most Effective Trainers, New Research Shows

Based on insights from 707 pilots and trainers, this important study exposes serious weaknesses in how aviation recruits, develops, and retains instructors - just as trainer shortages reach critical levels. 

Conducted by Durbin, Munns, Warren, and Edwards in collaboration with the University of the West of England and the Royal Aeronautical Society, the research delivers urgent findings the industry can no longer afford to ignore. 

The conversation continued during a powerful Women in Aviation Training (WiAT) roundtable held at the 2025 European Airline Training Symposium (EATS) in Cascais. The full report is ready for you to download below.

The headline findings of this report:

• 30% of women and 10% of men report experiencing gender-based discrimination
• 72% of male pilots would apply for training roles vs. only 49% of women
• Building a sustainable trainer pipeline requires structural, financial, and cultural change, supported by flexible working - including part-time roles

The instructor shortage isn't isolated to just pilot training alone, its affecting other training capacities: 

“There is a shortage of people to train pilots, and potentially the same issue is emerging for maintenance (mechanic) trainers.” - WiAT Roundtable.

This problem is universal; and it's not going away unless we take actionable steps to aim for a better future.

If you’re ready to explore practical, evidence-based ways to increase gender diversity in aviation training, this report highlights:

• How trainers are recruited and selected
• The key skills of effective trainers
• What motivates individuals to become trainers
• How to strengthen the trainer pipeline for the future

Feedback consistently suggested that the best instructors were those who showed respect, mentored well, and communicated effectively — qualities often attributed to female captains." - WiAT Roundtable

This report goes beyond technical skills:

"We also found that key skills for effective trainers extend beyond technical proficiency, focusing on empathy, communication, professionalism, and a trainee-centred approach aligned with Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) principles." - WiAT Roundtable.

These invaluable discussions are  available to guide your training programs anytime. Download your copy of the WiAT Report now to begin making real, insightful changes for your training organization.