Women Can Fly, a series of four special Saturday events scheduled for May and June of 2014, will introduce aviation to more girls and women in Virginia. While the number of women working in the aviation industry has steadily increased, they are still underrepresented in the workforce and the number of women pilots is only 6% of the total pilot population. Women Can Fly will be an enjoyable and educational event for girls and women of all ages to learn more about flight through a variety of experiences including static displays, special guests, simulation opportunities, preflight briefings, and a flight in a general aviation aircraft for participating girls and women. The goal is to inform them about career opportunities as well as introduce them to the fun and camaraderie of general aviation.
Women Can Fly events will be held at WarrentonâFauquier Airport on May 10, 2014; Lynchburg Regional Airport on May 24, 2014; Hampton Roads Executive Airport on June 21, 2014; and CharlottesvilleâAlbemarle Airport on June 28, 2014.
Local contacts are:
Doris Gatewood
Aviation Adventures at Warrenton
WarrentonâFauquier Airport
dorisgatewood@gmail.com
(540) 522â6115
Becky Farley
Hampton Roads Executive Airport
bfarley@flypvg.com
(757) 488â3166
Amanda Spence
Lynchburg Regional Airport
Amspence2@liberty.edu
(717) 826â3045
Banu Cole
CharlottesvilleâAlbemarle Airport
banucole@gmail.com
(757) 575â6792
Three Women Can Fly events were held in Virginia in 2013 and 373 women and girls were introduced to aviation and received a free flight. More information about Women Can Fly as well as photos from previous events can be viewed at www.womencanfly.org.
Women Can Fly is sponsored by the NinetyâNines, Inc. (International Organization of Women Pilots), Warrenton Fauquier Airport, Hampton Roads Executive Airport, CharlottesvilleâAlbemarle Airport, Liberty University, Freedom Aviation, and the Virginia Department of Aviation.
The Virginia Department of Aviation continually strives to become the standard of excellence among state aviation agencies through its cultivation of an advanced aviation system that is safe, secure and provides for economic development; its promotion of aviation education and awareness; and by providing flight services for Commonwealth leadership and state agencies.
