Did you know that only 6 percent of airline pilots are women? With 50 percent of the world’s population being female, we clearly have some work to do to add some balance to our profession.
One organization in particular, Women in Aviation International (WAI), is helping the entire aviation community to do its part to educate and inform girls everywhere to embrace aviation professions as viable careers. This weekend, on October 13, WAI’s Girls in Aviation Day is expected to reach more than 15,000 girls ages 8–17 around the globe. From Botswana to Utah and beyond, global partners will come together to host events through their local WAI networks.
As the voice of the airline pilot profession, ALPA knows that many pilots’ passion for flying started at an early age. This weekend’s Girls in Aviation Day events will provide opportunities for passionate young people to meet real airline pilots, and might be the first step for many toward becoming airline pilots themselves.No one is more committed to a strong pilot pipeline than ALPA.
Relatedly, we are thrilled that the U.S. government plans to establish a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation professions—one of many ALPA priorities addressed in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill that was just signed into law by the President.
Let’s keep the momentum going! Many ALPA members will be active with Girls in Aviation Day this year, giving the next generation of airline pilots access to mentors in the industry. Follow us and watch for our #GIAD18 posts this weekend!
Want to learn more about what it takes to become a professional airline pilot? Visit Cleared to Dream.