Male-female performance on U.S. Air Force pilot selection tests

Recently, the U.S. Air Force conducted several studies to examine sex differences on pilot selection tests and training performance.

Research has focused on mean score performance, the structure of ability, the predictive utility of pilot selection tests, and the causal role of ability and prior flying knowledge in the acquisition of additional flying knowledge and flying skills.

Despite male-female mean score differences on pilot selection tests, confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the same factors were being measured for both groups. In studies of predictive bias, no evidence of differential validity was found for male vs. female pilot trainees. An examination of causal models of ability and prior flying knowledge on the acquisition of additional flying knowledge and flying skills showed similar structure for men and women.