Aero Opens Doors to Women: Hundreds of Women Contribute to Aircraft Development and Production

Vodochody, 7 May 2025 – The idea that aircraft manufacturing is a male-only domain is long outdated. Whether in finance, development, or production, women hold a firm place at Aero. The company currently employs nearly 400 women, and more are welcome to join.

“Women make up almost a quarter of our total workforce at Aero. Their numbers have steadily increased over the past five years, and they are often key pillars of their teams. We want to motivate more women to embrace technical challenges and become part of the teams developing and producing the L-39 Skyfox advanced jet trainer or working on programs for global aviation leaders such as Airbus and Embraer,” says Luboš Tejkl, Executive Vice President responsible for Human Resources at Aero Vodochody Aerospace.

Technical Fields Are No Longer Just for Men

Women at Aero are increasingly entering technical professions—14% of them work in development, and 23% in production. While technical fields may traditionally seem male-dominated, that is changing. Today’s industry is less about heavy manual labor and more about industrial design, innovation, and precision—areas that can be highly appealing to women. Greater involvement of girls in technical education and industry careers can bring fresh perspectives and help move both the sector and the Czech Republic forward.

A New Approach to Education

“The Czech education system takes the wrong approach when it comes to supporting technical fields. Rather than inspiring curiosity in children, it still favors ‘separating the wheat from the chaff.’ We make things harder just to see who’s ‘weak,’ instead of making technical subjects more accessible and encouraging more young people to engage with them. Mandatory math graduation exams and overly complex problems at the age of 16 often lead to resistance towards the subject—and to technology itself. In contrast, high school math in the U.S. is simpler, yet they produce world-class engineers and scientists, with almost 30% of women studying technical disciplines. Perhaps we should save the advanced math for university and start by building enthusiasm for technology,” adds Tejkl.

An Attractive and Stable Industry

Aero offers not only an exciting field—aircraft manufacturing—but also stability. On average, Aero employees stay with the company for over 10 years, making them among the most loyal in the Czech labor market. Although Aero is a technical manufacturing company, the most important trait for new hires is a willingness to learn. The company provides structured training for newcomers, meaning previous experience is not always necessary. In terms of education, 38% of employees have completed secondary school, 36% vocational school, 22% have a university degree, and 4% have primary education.

Broad Career Opportunities for Women

Aero offers diverse opportunities for people of various educational backgrounds and interests. The Czech aircraft manufacturer currently employs over 1,700 people and is looking to expand its team. Open positions include machine maintenance technicians, metalworkers, test and service technicians, aircraft mechanics, assembly technologists, and quality control specialists. All positions are open to women. This year, Aero joined the Women in Aviation association, which aims to support women working in aviation and inspire more to join this dynamic and attractive industry.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance, and modernization of both military and civil aircraft. It is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest in the world. In the military domain, Aero is a long-term partner to many air forces and holds a strong position in the market for military training and light combat jets. With over 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100-year history, hundreds of L-39 Albatros jets still in service with dozens of operators, and the launch of its new L-39 Skyfox, Aero is positioning itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In civil aviation, Aero works with the world’s top aerospace manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is involved in multiple risk-sharing programs where it is responsible not only for manufacturing and assembly but also for development.

Contact:
Radka Černá, PR & Communications Manager
Email: radka.cerna@aero
Phone: +420 608 974 258
Website: www.aero.cz

Facebook: @aerovodochody
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LinkedIn: @aero-vodochody-aerospace-a.s.