As Girls in Aviation Day approaches on September 26, 2015, Women in Aviation International chapters are hard at work planning a meaningful and fun experience for local participants. This event is an outgrowth of the successful program held during the past three International Women in Aviation Conferences.

“We are pleased with the ingenuity and resourcefulness our chapters have shown in planning their own unique Girls in Aviation day. No two programs will be the same,” says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “We can’t help but think about all the lives that could be changed by participating in these events.”

More than half of WAI’s 100 chapters worldwide have registered with current plans for Girls in Aviation Day such as:

Atlanta (Georgia) Gone with the Wind Chapter plans to host 200 girls at Conyers Middle School. During the morning, career activity booths will be presented where groups of 20 girls will visit each booth for approximately 20 minutes. After lunch, guest speakers will discuss how to turn their dreams into reality and what their next steps should be. The guest speakers will include individuals from the company All Grown Up, Inc., the chapter’s high school and college members, and area schools/organizations. The day will end with free time for the girls to revisit any of the booths and talk to the presenters.

San Diego and Greater Los Angeles Chapters will be hosted by Premier Jet at McClellan-Palomar Airport for 50 girls from Girls Inc. and from a new Aviation Exploring post. The girls will have an interactive session with a panel of women from different aviation/aerospace careers; visit exhibits from local colleges, universities and flight schools; tour a static display of various types of aircraft; tour the air traffic control facility, and take part in a variety of fun aviation-related activities.

Nigeria Chapter’s event starts with a two-hour airport tour and “internship” program where girls can work with either engineers, mechanics in the hangars, pilots in cockpits, airport management or the air traffic control personnel. Next the entire group moves to Murtala Muhammed Airport School to meet role models, view exhibits, hear aviation experiences, participate in an aviation-oriented play and sing aviation songs. Refreshments and giveaways are part of the day as well.

Valley of the Sun (Phoenix) Chapter is partnering with Southwest Airlines and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. The girls will get to tour the Southwest Airlines maintenance hangar and tour a Boeing 737. Activities, speakers and networking will add to the day’s events.

Washington State Chapter’s event will be held at Harvey Airfield, a woman-owned facility including Snohomish Flying Service and Skydive Snohomish. A group of young women from the Goodwill Youth Aerospace Program will tour the airport management offices, training and maintenance facilities and airplanes.  These young ladies come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and are currently taking courses in business, aviation and aerospace to help them prepare for future careers. A networking lunch with accomplished chapter women, along with career-related handouts and discussions, will complete the day.

“Our chapters have reached out to partner with like-minded organizations in their areas and have received enthusiastic support from the aviation community,” adds Chabrian. “Girls in Aviation Day will definitely impact thousands of lives worldwide.”

WAI chapters will be given copies of the new Aviation for Girls magazine for distribution that day. This magazine provides information on aviation careers and scholarships, profiles interesting role models, and supplies resources and advice for girls.

More information on Girls in Aviation Day, September 26, 2015, including information about other local chapter events, can be found at wai.org.

Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information about WAI scholarships, please contact WAI at (937) 839-4647 or online at wai.org.