Breaking the fast jet ceiling

Some have tried but this most masculine of worlds so far remains a males-only bastion, at a time when the RAAF needs more pilots for the next generation of combat aircraft.

Now the Australian Human Rights Commission (HRC) has examined this issue in detail, releasing a comprehensive report, outlining where it sees the problem and what can be done.

“Overall, the Commission’s research shows that there is no single problem or barrier for women. Rather, there are a series of factors that have prevented the progress of both female and male pilots,” it concluded.

It made a total of 65 recommendations, all but three accepted by the RAAF. Many relate to changes already in place or under way.

RAAF chief Air Marshal Leo Davies said RAAF invited HRC to review why there were so many capable women but none were yet fast jet pilots.

That covered a range of issues, some RAAF knew about and some it didn’t.

“It’s important we don’t see a female fast jet pilot as the only measure of progress. While it will be a symbolic milestone, it is more important that we have the right workplace culture that supports everyone,” he said.

Group Captain Rob Denney, chief of staff of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group (ACG) said ahead of and in parallel with the HRC inquiry, ACG had engaged in its own process of introspection about the best way to train a modern workforce. It launched its Aircrew Production Improvement Program in 2015.

He said changed training practices will have the effect of producing more male pilots plus the first ever female fast jet pilots, likely within the year.

“We knew we had to evolve in that space already but the HRC gave us some insights and views,” he said.

“Different people learn in different styles at different rates. Instead of having a one size fits all pipeline, where we are trying to push everyone through, we know we need to adapt the way our instructors interact with trainees and educate and train them to become better fighter aircrew.”

“We always have to question – are we compromising quality to achieve this end – and ensure we don’t. We are comfortable we can improve the way we teach without compromising quality.”

Denney said examining established practices and longheld beliefs wasn’t always comfortable.

Likely not comforting reading was the HRC survey of opinions of RAAF members of fighter pilots.

HRC said the training system was designed to graduate a particular type of individual and many required qualities were masculine.

Females RAAF members acknowledged fast jet pilots were highly professional but also arrogant. Other descriptions included “elite/snob” and “worshipped.”

One RAAF member said individually, jet pilots were lovely people. But put them in a room together they were like a bunch of footballers let loose in a pub “with the occasional dickhead.”

Anyone who has ever watched the movie Top Gun will have some insight into how this could be, though Australian women pilots report that US military pilot training is now more agreeable because of the presence of qualified women pilots and instructors.

The HRC even recommended RAAF consider training women pilots in the US. That was one of the recommendations ACG knocked back, on grounds that it wanted one team, not a sub-set of pilots who had trained outside the Australian system.

It also rejected a recommendation that there be a no-fail policy for those undergoing jet conversion courses. HRC took the view that anyone who had made it that far surely had what it takes and every effort should be made to ensure success.

Denney said ACG understood the intent but simply couldn’t maintain a no-fail culture.

“At the end of the day we have to ensure our aircrew are safe and effective. We have a duty of care to them and everyone around us and the people we fly over the top of,” he said.

ACG has instead adopted a maximum pass policy.

“Our graduation rates over the last 2-3 years have increased markedly. Failure is a lot less common. We will try and pass everyone we think we can get through,” he said.

The HRC study was conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins between January 2015 and April 2016.

The HRC has gained substantial insight into Defence culture, playing a significant role in the reform processes which were given a substantial kick along by the 2011 ADFA Skype Scandal.

The report makes clear that the RAAF maintains exceedingly high standards for its fast jet pilots.

While no females have yet reached that peak, neither have many aspiring males. It said some adjustments could get women and more men through the training pipeline, with no diminution in standards.

Recommendation number one urges RAAF to commit to short and longterm strategies to increase pilot numbers, male and female.

Recommendation two calls for a new female pilot workforce development unit to case-manage training of women pilots.

“Air Force must become an employer of choice to attract the best and brightest aspiring aviators. The training system must be adapted to accommodate different learners, learning styles and timelines for learning,” it said.

Defence opened the way for Australian women to train as fast jet pilots in 1995. That was an early step in the ongoing process of cultural change. Around the same time the then Labor government prodded a reluctant defence force to lift its longstanding gay ban.

Females have already qualified as fast jet aircrew, with the first F-111 navigators graduating in 2000.

Placing more females in Hornet and F-35 seats isn’t just an equity issue. The RAAF needs more pilots right now and will need even more for F-35 and Growler.

But the training system hasn’t been producing nearly enough. Further, competition to recruit will become even keener as Qantas ends its long hiring freeze.

HRC said ACG currently requires 24 to graduate from Operational Conversion Courses each year to maintain workforce requirements – 18 D-Category fast jet pilots and six weapon systems operators. The RAAF failed to achieve its target for a number of years but did in 2016.

At the time the report was prepared last year, ACG had 174 pilots. It needed 190.

HRC said historically, the pilot training system was the exclusive domain of men. Only in recent decades have numbers of women slowly increased.

“With a long male history and a large male population, the culture at Air Force has evolved to reflect a single gendered experience,” it said.

In 2015, there were 25 female pilots, including four senior pilots, out of a total population of 763 pilots – just 3.3 percent of the pilot population. Of those pilots, 18 are in Air Mobility Group, flying C-17s, C-130s and MRTT aircraft.

Three are in airborne instructional positions. More perform roles outside the cockpit. In 2015 there were more than 200 in positions roles such as airborne electronic analysts, crew attendants and loadmasters.

The HRC cites a typical pathway to becoming a fast jet pilot.

Out of 600 applications for defence pilot training, 275 are selected for aptitude, medical and psychological testing. Around 70 start basic flight training on CT-4 aircraft, from which around 45 proceed to advanced flight training on PC-9 aircraft. Graduates gain their wings then head off to their parent services.

Around 15 are chosen for the introductory jet course, flying Hawk 127 lead-in fighters at 79 Squadron at RAAF Pearce, Western Australia.

Around 10 complete this training, then head to 76 Squadron at RAAF Williamtown for the six-month introductory fighter course which includes instruction in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Only successful graduates become D-Category fast jet pilots.

They go on to 2 Operational Conversion Unit for training on F/A-18 A/B Hornets or F/A-18F Super Hornets or to the US for training on F/A-18G Growler Super Hornet aircraft.

HRC said women who have tried the RAAF fight training system report that key traits for success are an ability to withstand constant test stress, confidence in the cockpit that is ‘masculine’ in its attributes and ability to learn within stringent timeframes.

While female pilots say the RAAF tries to treat them equally, they describe a culture that diminishes women and judges them by a male standard. Women report that anything female has negative connotations, in both the training environment and squadrons.

Despite well-publicised incidents of misconduct across the Defence Force, female RAAF members reported a reduction in unacceptable behaviour in recent years.

It hasn’t disappeared – one female pilot was nicknamed “token” with a photo of her head used as a target during shooting training in Afghanistan.

Some cited cases of outright hostility in flying schools and squadrons and described an exhausting environment where they were continually identified by gender, with any mistake attributed to being female.

HRC said the training was long and gruelling, with failure possible at any point, even right at the end.

Male and female trainees report a constant “test stress” which can detract from development of flying technique or decision-making. Females said they could perform better if this constant stress was eased.

“Flying’s a confidence game. You can really get inside your own head if you have a couple of bad days and you’ll start second guessing yourself,” one said.

One desired quality of fighter pilots is controlled aggression in the cockpit – referred to as “tiger” – which HRC said could be difficult for females.

“You can really get inside your own head if you have a couple of bad days.”
RAAF Female Pilot

For many women, success comes from staying in the middle of the pack, not standing out through excelling or failing. The military terms this “going grey.”

“On the other hand, if they want to succeed in air combat, they must find this very quality (tiger),” HRC said.

HRC said the consequence could be that the RAAF was graduating small numbers of highly resilient (male) pilots, while excluding others of equal talent.

Attrition rates are higher for fast jet training than for training on other platforms. In 2014 only seven of 11 male candidates completed conversion to fast jets while 31 or 34 men and the single woman qualified to fly other RAAF aircraft.

Unsurprisingly, this high attrition rate poses a substantial disincentive to aspiring pilots. Those who succeed are very good indeed. But there’s a substantial dollar cost to the Australian taxpayer in training invested in those who don’t make the cut.

The consistent message from trainees was that more flight training better adapted to different learning styles could increase throughput. Male and female pilots said everyone learned at different rates and a little more time and mentoring at all schools from 2FTS on would have greatly assisted.

“We could all achieve greatness if there was just more time,” one told the HRC.

There’s another route for females into fast jets. That’s by “re-role” of those already qualified to fly helicopters or transport aircraft. RAAF members said this process was ambiguous and ineffectively communicated to personnel.

HRC recommended RAAF make this process more accessible and prioritise opportunities for talented female pilots.

While the HRC sees much of the problem as the high attrition rate during training, the RAAF said it could increase pilot numbers, male and female, if it could increase initial recruitment.

There’s certainly something in this. One experienced pilot said when he joined in the early 1980s, there were some 20,000 applications a year for pilot training. Now that’s well under 1000.

A survey of RAAF members on why there were no female fast jet pilots produced a range of responses. Females attributed that to difficulty of training. Males said it was due to Australia’s small population.

HRC pointed out that Sweden, Norway, Netherlands and Israel have smaller populations than Australia and have graduated female fast jet pilots.

But even modest recruiting targets for women pilots haven’t been met. In 2014-15, the target was 17, with 13 recruited. Defence Force Recruiting says the low numbers reflect low interest among young women.

HRC said serving female RAAF members were perhaps the best advertisement for the RAAF, with one saying there was real potential for targeted recruiting “if we want to get serious.”

Research commissioned by HRC indicated many potential female candidates were opting for civil aviation, deterred by a perception that RAAF pilot training was extraordinarily challenging.

To create interest among young women, it said the RAAF needs to reach out to younger students. By years 11 and 12, they have already chosen subjects which may not include essential science and maths.

RAAF “flight camps” show promise. These offer a tailored RAAF experience for young people, with 29 enlistments out of 121 who attended the seven camps since 2013. That includes 14 pilots.

Space camps run by NASA in the US and attended by small numbers of Australian students each years have created similar interest in flying careers, as have air force cadets.

But many who aspire to pilot training are rejected at recruitment for medical reasons, some for conditions unrelated to ability to fly. HRC said the RAAF needs to ensure it’s not creating unnecessary barriers.

Since the dawn of flight, aircraft have been built for the male physique and modern fighters are no different – pilots must weigh between 55 and 100 kilograms and measure between 163 and 193 centimetres in height.

That’s to do with effective functioning of ejector seats and parachutes. Further, G-suits are designed for men, thought the RAAF says female aircrew show they can be made to work. F-35, with its adjustable seat and controls may be a better fit for women.

For women pilots, there are further issues – managing high G-forces while flying and fighting.

Many male pilots find this challenging, especially the requirement to constantly look over around while dogfighting, pulling high Gs while wearing a three-kilogram helmet.

One male pilot said this was akin to looking over your shoulder with a 30 kilogram bag of potatoes on his head.

“My neck is buggered,” he said.

The physical stress on neck and back can be significant and ACG instructors say this is where they lose the highest percentage of trainees.
The demands are so heavy and we’re breaking people, one said.

“When we train we repeat these events over and over again sometimes for periods of three weeks almost every day because you have to, to get the skills, but realistically it’s not going to happen like that. It’s all going to be over in about 30 seconds.”

Then there’s the long periods in the cockpit. Sorties in Operation Okra in the Middle East often last 8-10 hours.

For male pilots, there’s the piddle pack, requiring them to unbuckle, unzip and pee into a funnel. For females there are, well, nappies.

Neither is a very effective or dignified solution, prompting the US military to issue a challenge for someone to come up with something better.

The answer is the Omni Advanced Mission Extender Device (AMXD). For males, the collection unit is a cup shaped like an athletic protector.

For females the collection unit is akin to a sanitary pad. Output to either is automatically pumped to a collection bag. HRC says all female pilots should have an AMXD.