A feminização no controle de tráfego aéreo: percepções dos fatores e desafios da participação de mulheres na Força Aérea Brasileira

Abstract

This article analyzes the increased participation of women in air traffic control (ATC) within the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Traditionally marked by male predominance, the role of air traffic controller has seen a significant increase in female participation since the opening of the School of Aeronautics Specialists (EEAR) to women in 1998. The central objective of this research is to understand, from the perspective of female controllers, the factors that have driven this increased participation and to identify the main challenges faced by these professionals in the performance of their duties. To this end, a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach is adopted, structured as a case study, using the Integrated Air Defense and Air Traffic Control Center (CINDACTA IV) as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with female controllers from CINDACTA IV. The analysis engages with frameworks from gender studies and the sociology of work. The results indicate that the inclusion was motivated by a structural opportunity and pragmatic choice, and that the reconciliation between professional and personal life, aggravated by the rigidity of the shift schedule, constitutes the main challenge faced, signaling the need for greater structural adaptation of the Force. The analysis contributes to broadening the understanding of the inclusion of women in highly complex operational roles, addressing the positive impact of women's presence and the persistent structural barriers.