Japan's Civil Aviation College to Introduce Female Quota In 2027 To Increase Women Pilots

• Transport Ministry to set a female entrance exam quota at Civil Aviation College.
• Recruitment for 2027 academic year will include the new quota.
• Female pilots make up just 1.9% of Japanese airline pilots, lower than the global average of 4.7%.

The Transport Ministry of Japan will implement a female entrance exam quota at Civil Aviation College, which trains pilots, starting with the 2027 academic year. Currently, female pilots make up just 1.9% of all pilots in Japanese airlines, significantly lower than the global average of 4.7%. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism aims to increase this percentage to 10% by 2035.

In an announcement the ministry revealed plans to revise the current exam system and introduce a new category focused on personality-based evaluations. This approach will replace the traditional written exam with methods like document screening and interviews. The new category will offer 30 slots, with 20 reserved for the female quota. Under this plan, women will make up nearly 20 percent of the total recruitment capacity of 108.

Additionally, the college will eliminate the height requirement of at least 158 centimeters for applicants, with the new condition taking effect for those entering in the 2026 academic year. The college’s graduates currently represent about 40 percent of pilots working for domestic airlines. However, among the students admitted for the 2024 academic year, only six, or 5.6 percent, were female.