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Comparing pilot-error accident rates of male and female airline pilots

Author

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  • McFadden, K. L.

Abstract

This study analyzes whether differences existed in the pilot-error accident rates of male and female United States airline pilots. Results are based on data of aviation accidents in the years 1986-1992, obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration. The study found that females employed by major airlines had significantly higher accident rates than their male counterparts overall. However, female airline pilots, on average, were less experienced and much younger than males. Male pilot-error accidents were modeled using logistic regression, regressing on age, experience (total flying hours), risk exposure (flying hours in the last 6 months), and employer (major/non-major airline). The male model provided a good fit for female airline pilots as well as for males. After adjusting for variables included in the model, accident rates of males and females were not significantly different. These findings suggest that neither males nor females are a safer pilot group. Airlines should make every effort to recruit and retain experienced females. The key challenge for managers of airline flight operations is to learn how to manage diversity in the workplace, while maintaining the highest level of safety.

Suggested Citation

  • McFadden, K. L., 1996. "Comparing pilot-error accident rates of male and female airline pilots," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 443-450, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:24:y:1996:i:4:p:443-450
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    Cited by:

    1. McCarthy, Faye & Budd, Lucy & Ison, Stephen, 2015. "Gender on the flightdeck: Experiences of women commercial airline pilots in the UK," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 32-38.
    2. Qussay A. B. Alnuaimi & Xinping Xia & Firas Aziz M. Jawad, 2016. "Aviation Risk Management to Comparative Performance in Air China with American Airlines," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(2), pages 114-126, February.
    3. Hong, Seock-Jin & Lee, Kang-Seok & Seol, Eun-Suk & Young, Seth, 2016. "Safety perceptions of training pilots based on training institution and experience," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 213-221.
    4. McFadden, Kathleen L & Towell, Elizabeth R, 1999. "Aviation human factors: a framework for the new millennium," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 177-184.
    5. Wang, Zuozheng & Hofer, Christian & Dresner, Martin E., 2013. "Financial condition, safety investment and accident propensity in the US airline industry: A structural analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 24-32.
    6. Yaşar Dinçer, Fatma Cande & Yirmibeşoğlu, Gözde, 2024. "Constraints on women pilots in airline industry: A rising sector of international trade," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Hengel, E., 2017. "Publishing while Female. Are women held to higher standards? Evidence from peer review," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1753, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    8. Koufteros, Xenophon & Babbar, Sunil & Kaighobadi, Mehdi, 2009. "A paradigm for examining second-order factor models employing structural equation modeling," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 633-652, August.
    9. Chang, Yu-Hern & Yeh, Chung-Hsing, 2004. "A new airline safety index," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 369-383, May.
    10. Cankaya, Burak & Topuz, Kazim & Delen, Dursun & Glassman, Aaron, 2023. "Evidence-based managerial decision-making with machine learning: The case of Bayesian inference in aviation incidents," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    11. Pouget, Lilian & Ribeiro, Nuno Antunes & Odoni, Amedeo R. & Antunes, António Pais, 2023. "How do airlines react to slot displacements? Evidence from a major airport," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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