With 85 individual events presented worldwide, Women in\nAviation International\u2019s September 25 Girls in Aviation Day 2021 reached nearly\n10,000 attendees. While a majority of events were held in person, many were\norganized for virtual gatherings through the use of the Aviation for Girls App\nand additional video content. A hand full of events will continue to take place\nthrough the end of October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Truly an international event, Girls in Aviation Day was\ncelebrated not just in the United States, but in 17 other countries across\nNorth and Central America and Australia as well as countries in Africa, Asia,\nand Europe. Girls were introduced to the career and lifestyle possibilities in\naviation and aerospace through meeting role models, career panels, exploring\nairplanes and airports, and a host of hands-on, fun and educational activities\nranging from a sectional chart treasure hunt to making jewelry using A&P\ntools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur primary goal is to introduce girls ages 8 to 17 to all\nthe career opportunities aviation and aerospace offer,\u201d says WAI CEO Allison\nMcKay. \u201cWe go beyond piloting careers and include air traffic controllers,\nastronauts, mechanics, engineers, technicians, designers and more. In fact, one\ngirl told me that she now wants to design aircraft interiors as her career.\nThat\u2019s a career she would never have even known of, much less considered,\nwithout Girls in Aviation Day.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since WAI\u2019s first annual international Girls in Aviation Day\nin 2015, the annual WAI event has grown every year since its first gathering of\n32 events and 3,200 participants. In 2019, GIAD met more than 20,000 attendees\nparticipating in 119 events in 18 countries. In 2020\u00c2\u00ad\u2013\u2013owing to COVID-19\u2013\u2013WAI\nlaunched the free Aviation for Girls App with hours of educational content\nreaching thousands of girls from more than 60 countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next Girls in Aviation Day will be held on Saturday, March\n19, 2021, in conjunction with the International Women in Aviation Conference at\nthe Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. The\ninternational Girls in Aviation Day 2021 is planned for Saturday, September 24,\n2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n