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Executive Summary Civilian aviation is a key part of the transportation system of the United States and a major contributor to national economic prosperity. As a result, the public and policy makers take a keen interest in its well-being. Although the commercial airlines were largely freed from government economic controls in 1978, federal agencies continue to have important oversight responsibilities for aviation safety, and the public still expects government to pay special attention to how the aviation industry is faring. This study is one of several initiated by Congress in the years since deregulation to examine perceived problems in air transportation and in particular in the scheduled airlines. Its roots lie in concern about the continuing struggle of minorities and women to overcome barriers and prejudices that historically have restricted their access to many American workplaces. Like other industries, for many years aviation provided only limited opportunities for nonwhites and women. Explicit discrimination in hiring was accompanied by an internal culture that from the beginning of commercial aviation gave heavy emphasis to the masculine nature of flying. Even today, key airline jobs like pilots, maintenance technicians, and senior managers are still largely held by white men. This is frustrating for individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups who would like to fly or otherwise participate in this exciting field. It has also caused some to wonder whether the aviation industry will be able to find the workers it needs, with white men becoming a smaller and smaller part of the employed workforce and with the U.S. military, historically the source of many trained pilots and technicians, undergoing significant downsizing. In light of these concerns, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Education
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