Local Girls Invited To Learn About Aviation

LAKELAND, FL – Women have had a long history in aviation, from pilot Ameila Earhart to astronaut Sally Ride and others. A local organization is hoping to inspire more girls to choose aviation as a career.

The Heart of Florida Chapter of Women in Aviation International will host a free program for local gifs in grades K-12 to introduce them to the possibilities of a career in aviation. Girls in Aviation Day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, 3900 Don Emerson Drive in Lakeland.

“We want our local girls to see that there are exciting careers available to them as engineers, astronauts, pilots, dispatchers, air traffic controllers and dozens of other jobs within the aviation community,” said Olivia Lisbon, the WAI Heart of Florida chapter president. “We will introduce the girls to role models in our field and educate them in a fun and supportive atmosphere.”

The event is one of five Girls in Aviation Day events taking place across Florida and 73 across the world hosted by chapters of Women in Aviation International. Women in Aviation is using the outreach event to inspire the next generation of women in aviation, with individual chapters putting their perspectives in their events.

The Lakeland event will consist of aircraft displays, activities for all ages and the opportunity to meet and speak with women in all fields of aviation. Attendees also will be able to earn the new Girl Scout Aviation Girl Fun Patch.

“The program is free for participants and their chaperones,” Lisbon said. “We just want to see girls interacting with positive role models and considering aviation as they make their college and career plans.”

Women in Aviation International is nonprofit organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

For more information on the Heart of Florida Girls in Aviation Day, visit https://www.facebook.com/WAIHeartofFL/.

Caption: NASA astronaut Kate Rubins participates in a Facebook Live about her time on the International Space Station on Thursday, April 27 at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Image via NASA/Aubrey Gemignani