What did the University of Waterloo study find about female pilots?

The University of Waterloo study found that female pilots may outperform their male counterparts in managing stress during critical flight situations.

How did the researchers evaluate the pilots' performance?

The researchers equipped the pilots with eye-tracking spectacles and put them through simulated emergencies in a flight simulator to observe their composure and decision-making under duress.

What did the lead researcher Naila Ayala say about the study's findings?

Naila Ayala, the principal investigator, stated that the findings are exciting because they challenge the assumption that all pilots will react the same way to stressful situations, and that the study shows women may be better at maintaining control and making decisions in such scenarios.

Home / Science / Women Pilots Outperform Men in Stressful Flight Scenarios: Study

Women Pilots Outperform Men in Stressful Flight Scenarios: Study

9 Aug

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Summary

Groundbreaking study by University of Waterloo
Pilots' gaze and reactions monitored in flight simulator
Women pilots better at keeping control and making decisions under stress

Women Pilots Outperform Men in Stressful Flight Scenarios: Study

According to a groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Waterloo in Canada, female pilots may have an edge over their male colleagues in handling stress during critical flight scenarios. The research, which took place in July 2025, involved putting 20 seasoned pilots through a series of simulated emergencies, such as engine failures and complex landings, to observe their composure under duress.

The pilots were equipped with eye-tracking spectacles, allowing the researchers to meticulously monitor their gaze and reactions. The findings of the study, which were released on August 1st, 2025, suggest that women may be better at keeping control and making decisions in stressful flight situations.

"These findings are exciting because they push us to rethink how we evaluate pilots," declared Naila Ayala, the principal investigator of the study. "We can't assume that because two pilots are looking at the same things, they will react the same way. Our study shows that women may be better at keeping control and making decisions in stressful flight scenarios."

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