Research aims to increase women pilot ranks

Why aren’t more women flying? Research conducted under a Wolf Aviation Fund grant is aimed at finding out.

Colorado pilot Penny Hamilton was awarded the grant to partially fund national research to conduct in-depth interviews with female general aviation students and pilots regarding their flight training experiences.

According to the FAA, only 6 percent of all pilots in the United States are women.

“Why? That is the big question,” said Hamilton, who has a PhD. “This research project is looking at what barriers do women experience and how might their success rate be improved.” Visit the Web site related to the research to learn more.

Penny Hamilton is an award-winning aviation education researcher with academic degrees from the University of Nebraska, Columbia College, and Temple University. She earned her private pilot certificate almost 20 years ago. She is a founding board member and current volunteer secretary of the Friends of the Granby Airport and the Airport Support Network volunteer for AOPA. She is a member of the Ninety-Nines, Colorado Aviation Historical Society, Colorado Pilots Association and Women in Aviation International.