A Three Question Survey Of This Year's Amazing Women In Aviation Conference

At a number of the more intriguing special events that ANN and Aero-TV partake in, we engage in an interesting exercise in which we pose at least three questions to a dozen or so of those attending to gauge the mood on a range of issues pertaining to the subject at hand. This year's Women In Aviation Event was ripe for another such pursuit. Of the three topics raised this year, one was the obvious issue of whether or not there was still a perceptible level of discrimination against women in the aviation industry, the second was whether or not the current economic issues might make it easier or more difficult for women to enter this industry -- and finally (today's episode), what advice our respondents might have for a women looking to the aviation world with her feet on the ground but stars in her eyes...

The theme for the 20th Annual International Women in Aviation (WAI) Conference was "A New Approach for Your Tomorrow," but the Conference's underlying thrust was unquestionably jobs and the economy. Despite furloughs, fears and dwindling retirement funds, Conference-goers were full of determined optimism about their futures. Those WAI members who have spent their careers in the aviation industry were quick to assure younger attendees that the aviation industry operates in cycles and this one, too, shall pass. 

"Companies and organizations continue to hire, and we had active career recruiting by many of our exhibitors, especially for mechanics and technicians, but also for pilots, air traffic controllers and other positions as well," said WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "Our members and Conference attendees are proactive and steadfast; they are the top-tier candidates that any employer would want to hire."

Conference highlights included:

• Attendance reached nearly 3,000 women and men, including representatives from 15 countries.
• The Exhibit Hall displayed 125 separate companies and organizations, representing all aspects of the aviation community
• $459,450 in scholarships was distributed to WAI members at every stage of life from university students to mature members seeking a mid-life career change to aviation.
• The WAI silent auction raised $18,500 for WAI's Endowment Fund, bringing the total in the Endowment Fund to $629,500. The money in the WAI Endowment Fund is used for scholarships.
• Five women were inducted into WAI's International Pioneer Hall of Fame including Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier; Patricia Malone, a US Navy WAVE who trained aircraft carrier-based pilots on instrument flight procedures; Ruth Nichols who holds more than 35 women's aviation records; Dawn Seymour, the first woman accepted into the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) at Cornell University, and who later was chosen for the WASP program; and Anna Timofeyeva-Yegorova, one of the most famous Soviet women to fly in a male combat regiment during World War II and holder of the Hero of the Soviet Union award.

  

Added Dr. Chabrian, "This Conference was a celebration of 20 years of Women in Aviation conferences, and a rededication of our commitment to look forward by providing career opportunities for women in all aspects of the aviation community while looking back to recognize and honor the accomplishments of the determined women who made today's accomplishments and career choices possible."

The 21st Annual International Women in Aviation Conference will be held at Walt Disney World's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando, from February 25-27, 2010. As always, ANN will be there.

Aero-TV Asks Three Questions At The 2009 Women In Aviation Conference (Part 3)!

FMI: www.wai.org, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews