Future in Flight

Women in Aviation

With the demand for skilled pilots continuing to grow, now is the perfect time for women to pursue an aviation career. Increased support from airlines and aviation academies has made aviation careers just as accessible for women as they are for men. While there are only a few female leaders and role models in the industry today, it is important to remember that some of the most influential figures in aviation history were women, including Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart. Organizations like the EAA offer female-focused programs such as the EAA Women Soar Society, which connects women of all ages to aviation through camps, events, scholarships, and more. The nonprofit Sisters of the Skies organization was co-founded by Captain Claiborne, a United Airlines 787 captain and the first Black female pilot in the United States Air Force. She is one of the few Black women pilots, who represent less than half a percent of the total professional pilot workforce. The organization’s mission is to increase the diversity of pilots through events, scholarships, and support for young women of color who have little to no exposure to professional pilot careers. We no longer live in a world where aviation is a male-dominant industry. The skies are open to everyone.

Technology:

With all the advancements in technology, long-term job security can be a real concern. But rest assured, we are a long, long way from pilot replacements. Artificial intelligence will continue to become a larger asset for pilots, including advancements in autopilot, improved flight planning, and virtual assistance in and outside the cockpit. However, autonomous commercial flights remain a distant prospect due to various factors, such as safety concerns and public trust. The advancements towards sustainability in aviation are more groundbreaking than those in the cockpit, as hybrid and electric aircraft, the return of commercial supersonic flights, and space tourism are among the most significant milestones in aviation in the near future. Technology will enhance efficiency and safety, but the human element in the cockpit will remain essential. Pilots now and in the near future must be familiar with the interfaces and knowledgeable about how to use technology and automation as a tool, not a replacement. Greg Feith, a former NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) investigator, stated in 2025: “Technology is a tool, not a replacement. You cannot delegate pilot‑in‑command authority to automation.” Regarding the infamous “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency landing, Feith also explained: “Take Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles out of the cockpit. An autonomous system would have tried to return to a piece of pavement. It doesn’t have the capability to understand that the best landing site might be a river.” Artificial intelligence isn’t at a point where it can match human judgment in dire emergencies, making it vulnerable in a non-ideal situation. Even if we ever get to a point at which Artificial Intelligence is at a point in which it can operate flights with minimal human oversight, rigorous safety measures and certification would be necessary, and that takes time. It would also take a lot of time for people to begin and trust the automation, as in an emergency situation. According to a Forbes survey in 2017 conducted in the U.S, Europe, and Australia, only 17% of people said that they would board a flight lacking a human pilot. 83% said they wouldn’t be comfortable flying on a pilotless plane. Now is a great time to enter the aviation field, as long as you’re motivated, the demand is strong. Technology will serve as an ally, nowhere near a replacement, for now.

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