1. Aviation Origin Stories: An Inquiry into Aviation Career Choice Influences
College of Applied Science and Arts
2017 ASA Multidisciplinary Research Symposium
Matt Romero and Steve Goetz

2. Do you remember how you were introduced to your career field?

3. Purpose of the Study
Identify the variety of ways aviation students were introduced to aviation

4. Significance of the Study
Aviation workforce demands
Diversity of the aviation workforce

5. Significance of the Study
Aviation Workforce Demand
1,900-4,500 pilots per year until 2024
Declining enrollment at pilot schools
Regional airlines report difficulty finding pilots (GAO, 2014)
5,894 pilots per year until 2035 in North America (Boeing, 2016)
(Boeing, 2016)

6. Significance of the Study
Diversity of the Aviation Workforce
U.S. Population Demographics (%)
Women
50.0
Whites
62.8
Blacks
13.2
Asians
5.4
Hispanics
17.4
Native American
1.2
Demographics of Professional Aircraft Pilots (%)
Women
4.3
Whites
90.8
Blacks
2.9
Asians
2.4
Hispanics
3.9
(Ison, et al., 2016)
(Ison, et al., 2016)
(BLS, 2016)

7. Significance of the Study
Diversity in Collegiate Aviation
(Ison, et al., 2016)

8. Research Design Qualitative inquiry Online survey Participants
Five demographic questions
One open-ended question – “How were you introduced to aviation”
Participants
Collegiate aviation student body
Aviation Technologies
Aviation Flight
Aviation Management

9. Results Response Rate Approx. 230 Aviation Students
40 survey respondents = 17.4% Response rate

10. Results - Demographics

11. Results - Demographics
Survey Respondent Demographics (%)
White
90.24%
Black or African American
2.44%
Asian
4.88%
Hispanic or Latino
12.20%
American Indian or Alaska Native
Demographics of Professional Aircraft Pilots (%)
Women
4.3
Whites
90.8
Blacks
2.9
Asians
2.4
Hispanics
3.9

12. Results - Demographics
Gender
Female 21.95%
Male 78.05%
First Generation College Student %
International Students %

13. Results - Demographics
First Generation College Student %
International Students %

14. Results – Paths to Aviation
Member of the family involved in aviation
Spoke to aircraft pilots
Introduced at a young age
WWII Literature
Member of the family worked for an airline
Military Service
Video Games
Member of the family served in the military
Commercial Air Travel
Experience in and around an airport
Aviation Camps
Youth Group
Air Shows
High School Advisor
United Airlines Career Day/Campus Visit
Watching aircraft fly
General Aviation
Family took them to work
Introductory/Discovery Flight

15. Paths to Aviation

16. What’s Next Continue to collect data Analyze data for difference among
Extend the study to other institutions
Analyze data for difference among
Gender
Race/ethnicity
Socioeconomic status

17. Questions?