Photo above -Â At the December 6, 2018 second annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day brunch, hosted by the Oklahoma Aeronautic Commission, Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, the Tulsa Airport Authority and BizJet International, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum addressed the crowd. OAC Staff Photo.
In a crowd of 400 aviation and aerospace professionals and students, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in partnership with the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, the Tulsa Airport Authority Trust, and BizJet International hosted the second annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day event December 6 at the BizJet hangar at the Tulsa International Airport.
In 2017 the Oklahoma legislature passed a bill to officially recognize the contribution of Oklahoma women in the State’s aviation and aerospace industry. Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day (OK WIAA) is now recognized annually on December 9, in honor of Pearl Carter Scott.
Scott was born December 9, 1915 in Marlow, and learned to fly at the age of 13 under legendary aviator Wiley Post. She became the youngest pilot in the United States with her first solo flight on September 12, 1929.
The stage was flanked by two BizJet engines in the Tulsa-based company’s largest hangar as dignitaries presented their remarks. The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission’s director Victor Bird delivered the welcome.
Mayor of Tulsa, G.T. Bynum, Jed Cochran representing United States Senator Jim Inhofe, State Senator Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City, and Jennifer Hoffman, Director of Sales & Marketing, BizJet International, delivered brief remarks prior to the keynote speakers. This year’s event highlighted two trailblazing aviators from the Tulsa community – Nan Gaylord and Jennifer Wise.
The event Chairs were Alexis Higgins, Deputy Airports Director, Marketing & Community Relations for Tulsa International Airport and Kristy Slater, General Aviation Manager for Oklahoma City Department of Airports. Both are members of OAOA and have been longtime public servants in Oklahoma’s aviation community. Sandra Shelton, Public and Government Affairs Liaison for the Aeronautics Commission managed marketing of the event.
Many of the state’s top aviation and aerospace entities participated in Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day, including hosts, the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, Tulsa International Airport, BizJet International, and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Community partners included American Airlines, Creative Food Group, Delta Airport Consultants, Dr. Peter & Meredith Madden, KSA, L3 Aeromet, NFP, Olsson, Pratt & Whitney, Spirit AeroSystems, and Stillwater Regional Airport.
Representatives from AAR Aircraft Services; Ada Public Schools; Atlantic Aviation; Boeing; City of Tulsa; Claremore Regional Airport; Gilchrist Aviation; Green Country Aircraft; Grove Regional Airport; Garver USA; Guernsey; Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport; FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center; FIRST Robotics; Mead Hunt; HW Lochner; Lawton Regional Airport; Ninety-Nines Oklahoma Chapter; Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology; Oklahoma Department of Career Tech; Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Oklahoma State University; PCC Airframe Products; Riverside Flight Center; STARBASE Oklahoma; The Chickasaw Nation; The Osage Nation; Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport; Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Spartan School of Aeronautics; Spec Tech USA; Stafford Air and Space Museum; Sundance Airport; Tulsa Chamber of Commerce; Tulsa Air & Space Museum; Vance Air Force Base, Vigilant Aerospace and the University of Oklahoma were among the attendees at the event.
