Girls in Aviation Want to Break the Stigma: “Counselors Need to Stop the 'Surprised' Look When Female Students Want to Consider Trade Schools"
July 16, 2018
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According to the 2017 Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) survey of FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanics, this role is retiring faster than it can be replaced. Although 30% of this workforce is at or near retirement age, only 2% of the workforce is refilled by new hires each year. That lopsided ratio forecasts a massive looming shortage of experienced and trusted mechanics to keep America's planes safely airborne, which could create pricing and demand problems for passengers and cargo alike.The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) conducted a survey of its own female students and found several surprising findings that could help trade schools across the country boost their enrollment. Among their findings: more than half of the school's female students explored a different career path first before gravitating to aeronautics, 2/3 of respondents said they didn't know any other women working in the trades before applying to PIA, and nearly every respondent urged high school guidance counselors to provide female students with information about trade schools in addition to more "traditional" options like a four-year school or nursing, so students can make up their own minds about their futures.
As one respondent noted, “Counselors need to stop the 'surprised' look when female students want to consider trade schools." “The reasons are countless to encourage females of every age and background to seek out and excel in career fields that have been previously affiliated with male roles,” said Suzanne Markle, CEO of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. “And if solving a critical labor shortage isn’t incentive enough, experts have suggested that encouraging females in fields such as aviation can have significant economic impact.” According to a recent study from the McKinsey Global Institute, efforts to close the gender gap could group the economy by an extra $2.1 trillion in gross domestic product.ABOUT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICSThe school was opened by Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright in 1927 as Curtiss-Wright Flying Service, and became PIA in 1929. Today, PIA is a non-profit, career-focused family of schools offering programs in Aviation Maintenance and Aviation Electronics.The instructional staff combine real-world experience with classroom instruction, and a wide range of student and graduate services. PIA’s Career Services team works individually with each student to reach their employment goals. PIA is often the first stop for many employers looking for quality employees. PIA offers an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree at its West Mifflin, PA, location and Diploma programs in Youngstown, OH, Hagerstown, MD, and Myrtle Beach, SC. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recognized among the top schools fighting the nation’s skills gap in a list published in 2017 by Forbes. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics lands as the No. 11 Two-Year Trade School in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades.Niche rankings place Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in the #8 position among 619 trade schools in the United States for 2017 and #2 of 23 in Pennsylvania. Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews. Additionally, in 2017, Zippia placed PIA among the top 10 best U.S. junior colleges for jobs based on a variety of score card data including emphasis on job placement results.PIA’s campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach have been selected as four of approximately 40 aircraft maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines in an effort to find the schools whose graduates are able to meet or exceed their high expectations. There is open enrollment through the year accompanied with admissions requirements. For more information, call 1-800-444-1440, or visit www.pia.edu.
As one respondent noted, “Counselors need to stop the 'surprised' look when female students want to consider trade schools." “The reasons are countless to encourage females of every age and background to seek out and excel in career fields that have been previously affiliated with male roles,” said Suzanne Markle, CEO of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. “And if solving a critical labor shortage isn’t incentive enough, experts have suggested that encouraging females in fields such as aviation can have significant economic impact.” According to a recent study from the McKinsey Global Institute, efforts to close the gender gap could group the economy by an extra $2.1 trillion in gross domestic product.ABOUT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICSThe school was opened by Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright in 1927 as Curtiss-Wright Flying Service, and became PIA in 1929. Today, PIA is a non-profit, career-focused family of schools offering programs in Aviation Maintenance and Aviation Electronics.The instructional staff combine real-world experience with classroom instruction, and a wide range of student and graduate services. PIA’s Career Services team works individually with each student to reach their employment goals. PIA is often the first stop for many employers looking for quality employees. PIA offers an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree at its West Mifflin, PA, location and Diploma programs in Youngstown, OH, Hagerstown, MD, and Myrtle Beach, SC. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recognized among the top schools fighting the nation’s skills gap in a list published in 2017 by Forbes. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics lands as the No. 11 Two-Year Trade School in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades.Niche rankings place Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in the #8 position among 619 trade schools in the United States for 2017 and #2 of 23 in Pennsylvania. Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews. Additionally, in 2017, Zippia placed PIA among the top 10 best U.S. junior colleges for jobs based on a variety of score card data including emphasis on job placement results.PIA’s campuses in Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach have been selected as four of approximately 40 aircraft maintenance schools to partner with Delta Air Lines in an effort to find the schools whose graduates are able to meet or exceed their high expectations. There is open enrollment through the year accompanied with admissions requirements. For more information, call 1-800-444-1440, or visit www.pia.edu.
