The 33rd annual Women in Aviation International Conference brought back Girls in Aviation Day, which featured 21 activity stations designed to highlight a variety of aerospace careers to youth between the ages of 8 and 17.
The event, held on the last day of the conference, drew 200 girls, their chaperones, and 100 volunteers—reaching its capacity.
The attendees were treated to a range of activities from a virtual reality simulator of an F-35 that spotlighted possibilities for the armed services, to a drone remote control tent that called attention to another type of piloting.
While several flight simulator options were available, a key to Girls in Aviation Day is to emphasize the breadth of careers available. As such, the event also included options displaying manufacturing possibilities (3D printing pens), air traffic control careers (an ATC simulator), and maintenance (a parts matching game and a wiring safety activity demonstrated through bracelet making). Among 13 organizations running the stations, The National Air Transportation Association hosted an activity that incorporated aircraft parking training with bright orange marshalling wands. And, in promoting aircraft completions opportunities, attendees were able to decorate stickers that were affixed to a model of an Embraer Legacy which eventually will be showcased at Nashville International Airport.
For older participants, a college fair was held to provide answers to attendees about different pathways, while a panel was held highlighting seven different aviation careers. This year’s luncheon speaker was Sara Langberg, an aeromechanical engineer and one of the designers of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Not only were attendees able to decide where on Mars they’d like to live based on a giant map, but they were able to learn about Langberg’s participation in the program and see footage from the expedition.
