WAI Offers Nearly A Half Million Dollars In Scholarships

By Jennifer Staretorp

Representatives of AOPA and Women in Aviation, International (WIA) announced  a new joint venture Thursday to increase the membership of women in the aviation industry. 

Currently, only six percent of the total pilot population consists of women. Working together, AOPA and WAI want to encourage women to share their passion and talents in aviation to strengthen the general aviation community, whether as pilots, mechanics or engineers.  This year, WAI offered scholarships to young women pursuing careers in aviation totaling over $495,000. Dr. Peggy Chabrian, president of WAI, hopes these scholarships are just steps to "inspire women of all ages to get involved with aviation."

Other programs, such as AOPA's "Let's Go Flying", encourage youth to become involved in the aviation industry from an early age. "This agreement is important to AOPA," said Craig Fuller, President and CEO of AOPA. He went on to say that they "want to expand our presence at each others events."

Dr. Peggy Chabrian File Photo

The two organizations have already begun to work together in the planning process of AOPA's Aviation Summit, which will take place November 5-7 this year in Tampa, FL. Similarly AOPA plans to increase their presence at WAI's 21st Annual WAI Conference, an event they have attended in years past.  The WAI Conference will take place February 25-27, 2010, in Orlando. AOPA has already dedicated a $3,000 scholarship that will be presented at the WAI Conference.

FMI: www.wia.org www.aopa.org