The percentage of FAA-rated female pilots is 6%, not 7 or 9 as some claim using the fake student statistics the FAA produces since student certificates no longer expire.
The percentage of women who are interested in learning to fly and take the first step (despite article titles like this one using the term ‘aviator’ to signal to them that it is a guy thing) has been around 20-30% since the 70s.
Youth-restricted outreach programs do not work because learning to fly is not really “feasible” for youth unless they have familial financial support or decide to enrol in the military. In fact, FAA statistics show more student pilot certificate issuance after 80 than before 16. Statistics also show that most people learn to fly between the ages of 25 to 35.
However, there is no outreach effort towards this age group except for the Fly It Forward® call to action during Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (week of March 8, anniversary date of the first female pilot licence). Many young women start flying lessons immediately after participating without asking others to pay for it…