AAR Corporation and the Women in Aviation International Greater Oklahoma City Metro Chapter will join Will Rogers World Airport, the 137th Special Operations Wing, the Air and Space Forces Association of Oklahoma, Boeing, Sooner Flight Academy and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics to host the first Girls in Aviation Day in central Oklahoma. To be held at AAR Hangar 2, located at the company’s Maintenance Base facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Women in Aviation International event will focus on introducing young girls to the exciting field of aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics, educating them on career opportunities and bringing awareness to the many diverse fields within the industry.
“AAR Corporation has a need to grow their future workforce due to an expansion at their Oklahoma City facility, and our company is invested in the community to develop the next generation of aviation technicians and professionals,” said Levi Lentz, General Manager of AAR-Oklahoma.
Historical Hangar 2 will be the site of the Central Oklahoma Girls in Aviation Day which will take place on September 23rd with an opening aviation rally being held at 10:00 am. Featured speakers will be Commissioner of Labor Leslie Osborn, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Grayson Ardies, State Senator Paul Rosino, Director Jeff Mulder with Will Rogers World Airport, and Jennifer Wong with Boeing.
“As a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor, it’s important that we capture these young women early so they can explore the career opportunities that are open to them across the State of Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. The greater Oklahoma City area has a one-hundred-year history in aviation so events like these are important to remind young citizens of our aeronautical history and our optimistic future,” stated Jeff Mulder, Director of Airports for the City of Oklahoma City.
“More than 400 Central Oklahoma-area girls are expected to attend the inaugural event and have the opportunity to hear from aviation leaders,” said WAI Oklahoma City President, Young Chappell, a Boeing aerospace engineer. Chappell will champion the event supported by the WAI Oklahoma City members, 137th Special Operations Wing airmen, AAR Corporation, and Boeing volunteers. “We are so excited about this opportunity to give back to the community,” she said.
Paula Kedy, Aero Education Coordinator for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission leads the charge for the AOPA “You Can Fly” program across the state. Kedy is responsible for developing statewide programs and meaningful STEM opportunities such as various aviation day events for students and educators. “Oklahoma is already focusing on aviation in high schools, career techs, and colleges, so we are very excited to support this special event to inspire young girls to seek out programs available to them through secondary and post-secondary education. There will be a great rotation of booths and static displays for them to explore.”
The girls will engage in hands-on learning about aviation including piloting, aircraft maintenance, the physics of flight, flight safety, aviation medicine, military aviation, and air traffic control.
To register for this free event visit: https://waiokc.org/girls-in-aviation-day-2023/. The event will sell out at 400 persons.
Women in Aviation International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests. We provide educational, networking, and volunteer activities for our members throughout the year.
For more information about the Oklahoma City Chapter of Women in Aviation, visit https://waiokc.org/.
To register https://waiokc.org/girls-in-aviation-day-2023/
