Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939

The Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939 was a pivotal point in aviation. The act was signed by President Roosevelt on June 27, 1939, in response to similar civilian flight training programs implemented by the rival European countries prior to World War II (Kraus, n.d.). The U.S wanted to significantly ramp up the number of trained civilian pilots. The act outlined, "none of the benefits of training or programs shall be denied on account of race, creed, or color" (FAA, n.d.). It gave minorities and women the opportunity to receive formal flight training at educational institutions.   

The Civilian Aeronautics Authority (CAA) was the preceding agency to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The CAA regulated flight training for the Civilian Pilot Training Program (Kraus, n.d.). The training curriculum consisted of two parts. The first part consisted of a 72-hour ground school training. The second was that there was a flight school instruction of at least 35 hours (Kraus, n.d.). The student ratio of women to men was 1:10. Once the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed an executive order that transitioned the Civilian Pilot Training Program into the War Training Service. The new program ordered graduate pilots to enlist in the U.S. military as combat pilots. Women were not allowed to serve in the military at that time, but around 2,500 women graduated from the program and joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). WASP flew at 126 U.S. bases and ferried over half of the combat aircraft fleet. It was not until over 30 years later that the WASP efforts were recognized as honorable active-duty service. Another notable piece of history that came from the Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939 was the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were America’s first black aviators in the military.  

The Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939 had a positive impact on aviation.  It was one of the first steps to having more diverse pilots. With the act, we got to see our first female pilots in the military, and other heroes like General Daniel James Jr, “Chappie” who was a Tuskegee Airman.  

    

Note. Women Airforce Service Pilots photo from https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html 

                     

Note. Tuskegee Airmen photo from https://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/galleries/tuskegee-airmen-archives/

References  

Federal Aviation Administration [FAA]. (n.d.). Timeline of FAA and aerospace history. Timeline of FAA and Aerospace History | Federal Aviation Administration.  https://www.faa.gov/about/history/timeline  

Kraus, T. F., (n.d.). The CAA Helps America Prepare for World War II. FAA Milestones and Events | Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/about/history/milestones/media/The_CAA_Helps_America_Prepare_for_World_WarII.pdf  

National Museum of United States Air Force. (n.d.). Civilian Pilot Training Program.  https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196137/civilian-pilot-training-program/