Diversity in the Aviation Industry

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in every industry, and the aviation industry is no exception.

On January 26, 2023, American Airlines and Barbie came together to honor the legacy of aviator Bessie Coleman, the first afro-indigenous woman to hold a pilot’s license in 1921. To celebrate Coleman’s birthday and Black History Month's imminent beginning, Barbie officially announced the launch of its Bessie Coleman doll, as part of its "Inspiring Women" series. Additionally, customers flying Flight AA771 from Coleman’s hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth to New York received the newly released Bessie Coleman Barbie doll. "Keeping Bessie's legacy alive has always been a labor of love for my family, and we are proud to recognize her determination and accomplishments for Black women in aviation and continue to share my great aunt's pioneering spirit with fans of all ages," said Gigi Coleman, Bessie Coleman's great-niece, said in a statement. Barbie will also partner with Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars: a nonprofit founded by Gigi Coleman that educates students and introduces them to careers in aviation, as well as the nonprofit Girls Write Now.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in every industry, and the aviation industry is no exception. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for aircraft pilots and flight engineers, only 5.3% are women, 3.9% are Black or African American, 1.5% are Asian, and 6.1% are Hispanic/Latinx. Additional statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also show how over 90% of professional pilots today are white males. Inspiration of diversity in upcoming generations is essential to workforce development and changing the current picture of the aviation industry is a step in the right direction.

Due to her race and gender, flight schools in the US wouldn't admit Coleman, but that didn't stop her. Coleman went international, learning French and moving to Paris to attend aviation school.

All pilots deserve the opportunity to be inspired, train, and build their skills in a supportive environment. To create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive aviation workforce, those concepts need to go further than just words from a university or flight training school. Diversity must be normalized in all environments and embraced by all individuals.

Some tips for putting diversity, equity, and inclusion to work in all aspects of aviation (both in an academic and professional setting) include the following:

• Opening the lines of communication: Keeping communication transparent, safe, and available is crucial for growing and learning about areas that need change.

• Developing committees: American Airlines has continued to inspire the next generation of aviators by hosting a special program for aviation students at the Ronald E. McNair public school 5 in Brooklyn, New York — a place designed to inspire youth to follow and build upon Bessie Coleman’s rich legacy.

• Staying informed: There is always room for improvement in any environment; one small thing today can make a large difference tomorrow.

Overall, Coleman’s legacy in aviation endures and she is credited with inspiring generations of African-American aviators, male and female, including the Tuskegee Airmen and NASA astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison, who carried Bessie Coleman’s picture with her on her first mission in the Space Shuttle when she became the first African American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in September 1992.

"We hope through this doll more people will discover Bessie's story and be inspired," Gigi Coleman said.

References

American Airlines. (2023, January). Bessie Coleman Barbie inspires youth to look to the skies. Newsroom - Home - American Airlines Group, Inc. https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2023/Bessie-Coleman-Barbie-inspires-youth-to-look-to-the-skies-ID-BK-01/?utm_source=News_Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsroom_Alerts#:~:text=American%20Airlines%20 and%20 Barbie%C2%AE,a%20 pilot's%20license%20 in%201921

Blum, J. (2019). Bessie Coleman. Cradle of Aviation Museum. https://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/history/women-in-aviation/bessie-coleman.html

Johnston, M. (2022, September 29). Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Aviation. CAU. https://calaero.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-aviation/