Tailoring Success Together

A New Approach to Enhancing Aircrew Effectiveness, Comfort, and Morale

Guest blog by Imperial College London and former H4MOD students Mersini Markopoulou and Nathalie Podder.

In Autumn 2023, our student team, "Tailoring Success in the Skies," embarked on a mission extending beyond the classroom. This was a mission to unravel the effects of female-specific clothing and equipment on the comfort and morale of female aircrew. In this blog, we'll share our transformative H4MOD experience, the invaluable lessons from the course, and the positive impact of our campaign, "Tailoring Success Together!"

Unravelling the Threads

Our journey began by examining aircrew equipment and uniforms. Currently, no current issued equipment meets the specific needs of female aircrew. The last study on human body size and shape was conducted in 1971, long before Flt Lt Julie Gibson joined as the RAF’s first operational pilot in 1991. Consequently, design decisions for uniforms and safety equipment were solely based on quantitative, male anatomy data.

Qualitative data, exposing the impact of poorly fitting garments on the daily lives of female aircrew, was even more scarce. To compound this data gap, a communication void was present among our identified beneficiaries – the servicewomen who were experiencing the issue most acutely. They faced challenges, but there was limited discussion about the steps taken to address them. Senior decision-makers required evidence for resource allocation, yet survey fatigue posed a significant obstacle in gathering this. The critical missing link? A clear and logged feedback loop. Without it, people were less likely to take part in surveys when the results of doing so weren’t clear.

The imperative for our research became evident. Over the course of our 10-week module, we conducted 73 interviews, representing over 10% of all female aircrew currently employed in the Tri-Services.

A Crafty Campaign

Inspired by successful initiatives like: Is Your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Fit for Purpose?, a campaign led by the Women’s Engineering Society, we had a hunch: closing the feedback loop would boost engagement. Testing this led to our Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a campaign website called "Tailoring Success Together!"

Our goals were clear. Firstly, we wanted to close the feedback loop by providing a platform for two-way communication on clothing and equipment issues. Participants are encouraged to sign up, actively engaging in our initiative through the "How can I get involved?" section. By doing so, they join a community receiving updates on recent initiatives and studies while gaining access to valuable results.

Second, recognising that uniform concerns affect everyone - regardless of gender - our campaign featured a survey collecting feedback on how current uniform fittings impact safety, morale, and operational effectiveness for all aircrew. We aimed to include everyone in the conversation, as we believed collective engagement would be more effective whilst also helping to address the gender data gap.

By showcasing the negative effects of current uniforms on safety, morale, and operational effectiveness, our goal was to prioritise these issues surrounding ill-fitting uniform. This strategic move would position the project to reach the Top-Level-Budget.

Altering Our Mindset

Our journey expanded from focusing on female-specific clothing and equipment to a broader examination of the overall aircrew experience. "Tailoring Success Together!" isn’t looking to only address inequality challenges, but also to foster a culture of open communication, inclusivity, and data-driven decision-making within the close-knit aircrew community. With the potential to impact mission success and increase budget allocation towards better aircrew equipment, our initiative is poised to make a lasting difference in the comfort, morale, and operational effectiveness of aircrew members across the board.

One of the most important lessons we learnt is that data and communication are powerful tools for rectifying social injustice. However, we cannot, and should not, expect those who are underrepresented to do all the legwork in equality, diversity, and inclusion. We need to enable, amplify, and reinforce their voices so that they have a fair chance of being heard.

Our Reflections

H4MOD provided us with the skills to navigate challenges, conduct meaningful interviews, and analyse data critically. The emphasis on “getting out of the building” enriched our learning experience, giving us a real-world perspective on the complexities of addressing gender disparities in the Armed Forces.

Our journey with "Tailoring Success in the Skies" demonstrates the positive impact students can have when given the opportunity to tackle ongoing real-world challenges. The course not only equipped us with new and important skills, but also instilled a sense of responsibility in us to contribute to positive and impactful change. So, as we continue to advocate for inclusivity and the well-being of aircrew members, we look back on this experience with immense gratitude for the invaluable lessons learned, and experience in the classroom and beyond.

Want to get involved in our H4 courses? Get in touch at info@commonmission.uk