MALE-FEMALE PERFORMANCE ON US AIR-FORCE PILOT SELECTION TESTS

Background: Recently, the U.S. Air Force conducted several studies to examine sex differences on pilot selection tests and training performa nce. Methods: Research has focused on mean score performance, the stru cture of ability, the predictive utility of pilot selection tests, and the causal role of ability and prior flying knowledge in the acquisit ion of additional flying knowledge and flying skills. Discussion: Desp ite male-female mean score differences on pilot selection tests, confi rmatory factor analyses indicated that the same factors were being mea sured for both groups. In studies of predictive bias, no evidence of d ifferential 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 showe d similar structure for men and women.