Final answer:
The answer addresses the intent behind both the recency of experience requirements for pilots and the physical qualifications such as height in the US Air Force. It discusses how such rules can create disparities and notes the positive changes made to become more inclusive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rules for pilot qualifications and recency of experience requirements, such as those the student quoted for pilot in command (PIC) recency, are designed to ensure safety and competency. However, the physical requirements for becoming a pilot, like the height restrictions in the US Air Force, also highlight how rules can indirectly favor certain groups. While intended to ensure that pilots fit properly in the cockpit, such rules have historically excluded a significant portion of the population, including over 40 percent of American women. To address such disparities and make the field of aviation more inclusive, these rules have undergone changes. For instance, the Air Force has modified its height requirements, allowing more individuals the opportunity to become pilots and reflecting a growing understanding that inclusivity benefits the industry and society.