Press Releases

WomenVenture at Oshkosh: Nine Years Old and Going Strong

2016-06-27 08:00

Weeklong event planned for AirVenture 2016

WomenVenture 2016 has been expanded to include daily activities planned to attract and inspire female show-goers at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Throughout the years, WomenVenture has enhanced the presence of women at AirVenture and given show-goers the opportunity to bond with other women who share their passion for all things aviation.

The heart of WomenVenture is Wednesday, July 27, which kicks off with the WAI Connect Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. in the EAA Nature Center Pavilion. Sherry Carbary, Vice President, Flight Services, Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes will speak along with Jackie Nesselroad, Boeing director of production operations for the Space Launch System New Orleans facility, managing the teams building the core stages of the Mars rocket for NASA.

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Plans Taking Shape for September 24th International Girls in Aviation Day

2016-06-20 08:00

WAI chapters busy at work to plan memorable days for girls

Women in Aviation International has declared September 24, 2016, as the second annual Girls in Aviation Day. On this day, WAI chapters around the globe will host their own one-day event to attract more young women to the aviation and aerospace communities with a day of activities appealing to girls ages 8 to 16 years of age. This program is an outgrowth of the successful Girls in Aviation Day events held during International Women in Aviation Conferences since 2012.

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Statement of WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian on the passing of WAI Pioneer Mary Feik

2016-06-13 08:00

We are deeply saddened to learn of WAI Pioneer Mary Feik's passing June 10, 2016. Mary, WAI #53, was a maintenance instructor for the US Army Air Corps, and later became the first woman engineer in R&D for the USAF Air Technical Service Command. She was a renowned ambassador for the Civil Air Patrol, the first woman to receive the FAA Taylor Master Mechanic Award, and recipient of the Katharine Wright Trophy. Mary was the 2014 inductee into the First Flight Society's Paul Garber Shrine at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC and was the recipient of many other...

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WAI Wishes Blue Skies and Tailwinds to Air Race Classic Pilots

2016-06-02 (All day)

40th Air Race Classic Launches June 21

Women in Aviation International extends best wishes to the 71 teams of women pilots competing in this year's Air Race Classic. The 40th annual Air Race Classic begins and ends at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - beginning at the Prescott, Arizona, campus on June 21, 2016, and ending on June 24, 2016, at the Daytona Beach campus. The race course extends across 12 states and 2,716 miles, with women from all walks of life, from ages 17 to 90, racing this year.

"My best advice for the race teams is to fly safe and...

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Women in Aviation International Has Big Summer Planned

2016-05-04 08:00

Outreach, outreach, outreach!

Women in Aviation International (WAI) has three events planned in the coming months to continue its aggressive outreach to attract more women to the aviation community. These events include a regional conference, WomenVenture as part of EAA AirVenture, and a repeat of the very successful international Girls in Aviation Day.

"The original impetus for Women in Aviation International was to facilitate opportunities to network for women who share a passion for all things aviation," said WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "...

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King Schools Scholarship Puts WAI Over the $10 Million Mark

2016-03-29 08:00

More than 100 scholarships were distributed to WAI members during the recent 27th annual International Women in Aviation Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, March 10-12, 2016. These scholarships were given to WAI members at every stage of life, from university students to mature members seeking a mid-life career change to aviation. A total of $661,234 in scholarships were awarded, bringing the total scholarships awarded to more than $10,100,000 since the inception of the scholarship program in 1995.

The scholarship which pushed the total dollar value past the $10 million mark was...

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SUN 'n FUN and WAI Partner for High Flying Lunch

2016-03-28 08:00

April 8 event includes panel discussion

Women in Aviation International's Connect Lunch at SUN 'n FUN 2016 will include a panel discussion, moderated by WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian, of aviation notables and role models. The lunch, in partnership with SUN 'n FUN, is scheduled for Friday, April 8, 2016, and will begin at noon in the Buehler Aerospace Skills Center.

Panelists include:

Pia Bergqvist has been flying since 1999. With about 3,200 hours of flight time, her background includes flight instruction, aircraft sales, and aviation...

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HAI's Karen Gebhart New WAI Board Chair; WAI Adds Two New Board Members

2016-03-22 08:00

WAI membership elects new board members at 2016 conference

Karen Gebhart, Vice President of Business Development for the Helicopter Association International, was elected for a two-year term as the chair of Women in Aviation International's (WAI) board of directors at the 2016 International Women in Aviation Conference. She is a private pilot and industry veteran who previously worked for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

"We are committed to promoting all segments of the aviation community to our members," said WAI President Dr. Peggy...

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International Women in Aviation Conference Opens Doors, Provides Opportunities

2016-03-13 08:00

The 27th annual International Women in Aviation Conference accomplished its goal to Connect. Engage. Inspire. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, March 10-12, 2016.

"Thousands of women made powerful connections this week that will enhance their lives and careers for years to come," said Women in Aviation International (WAI) President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "Attendees and exhibitors alike agree that we continue to raise the bar for energy, support, enthusiasm and camaraderie."

Saturday night's closing banquet...

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Women in Aviation International Creates Girl Scout Patch

2016-03-09 08:00

Aviation Girl patch recognizes Girl Scouts' participation

Women in Aviation I nternational has created a Girl Scout fun patch to award to Girl Scouts who take part in Girls in Aviation Day events. The first chance girls will have to earn the patch will be at Girls in Aviation Day Nashville, on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the International Women in Aviation Conference.

WAI's Aviation Girl patch will be available exclusively through WAI chapters around the world to serve the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Girl Scout fun patches are worn...

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