IF YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOURE DOING, you'll keep getting what you're getting. I always tried to focus on that advice from a past flight instructor while attempting to perfect my landings, but I have come to realize it applies to pretty much every aspect of life. As we've all seen, the topic of diversity and inclusion has taken center stage in the United States. And I have to admit that when I take a look around at air-shows, conventions, and fly-ins, I can't help but notice it's a lot like looking in a mirror. Aviation could use a little more diversity-not just in ethnicity, but in age and gender. Aviation should reflect society as much as possible. If we don't find ways to attract a broader range of professionals to enter our field, we are doomed for complacency, and, to quote my flight instructor-we'll keep getting what we're getting. Roughly 7.8 billion people make up the world's population, and of that massive number, a very small percentage of us can call ourselves pilots. But when broken down by ethnicity and gender, the disparity is pronounced. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 94 percent of pilots and flight engineers are white, fewer than 3 percent are Black, and 2 percent are Hispanic. A mere 7 percent are women. We should find ways to be more inclusive and welcome everyone to join this passion of ours.
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