In response to media inquiries following the Southwest Flight 1380 incident, Women in Aviation International (WAI) provides the following information:
According to Federal Aviation Administration data, as of December 31, 2017 (the most recent available), 42,694 women hold a pilot certificate, representing 7 percent of the total pilot population. Of these female pilots, 6,994 women hold an Air Transport Pilot certificate. The number of female pilots in the United States has been slowly but steadily increasing in recent years.
Quote from Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President, Women in Aviation International: WAI member Tammie Jo Shults is an outstanding representative of the pilot community who continually train for safe aircraft operations under all conditions. As we applaud Tammie Jo’s professional handling of an emergency situation, we remember all those whose lives were impacted by this event.