This book reports on a study of education and training for civilian aviation careers. Following an overview of the study in chapter 1, chapter 2 provides the context for the analysis by first sketching the evolution of the aviation industry, then describing the key characteristics of the current industry and its workforce. Among the issues described in this chapter are the following: the shaping role of government regulation on and deregulation on the work force, the factors that affect worker supply, demand, earnings, and qualifications, and the current gender and ethnic composition of the aviation work force. Chapter 3 examines the importance of the military as a source of training professionals for civil aviation, including the impact of military downsizing on the availability of minorities and women with aviation training and on training opportunities for these groups in the military. Options for training the civilian aviation work force are the focus of chapter 4, which explores and compares the strengths and limitations of five training pathways: military training, foreign employees, on-the-job training, collegiate training, and "ab initio" (from the beginning) training. Chapter 5 takes an in-depth look at the issue of diversity in the aviation work force. The chapter analyzes past and present obstacles affecting the employment of women and minorities, examines ways to expand the pool of interested and qualified individuals, and recommends improvements in educational preparation, selection criteria, industry climate, and other areas that could help create a more diverse workforce. The book contains 159 references and biographical sketches of the Committee on Education and Training for Civilian Aviation Careers. (KC)