Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is an annual international week of awareness and outreach celebrating past, present, and future women of aviation. CONTENT 2 About 4 Key elements 6 History 6 Partners 7 Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iwoaw) 7 Contact information 1 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
ABOUT Who The Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iwoaw), a worldwide not-for-profit consortium of businesses and organizations, organizes various contests, facilitates collaboration and communication between all parties, and tracks all activities associated with Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week. What Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is an annual week of awareness and outreach celebrating all women of aviation and their contribution to the betterment of the air and space industry. During the week, women-centric events with a focus on acknowledging the accomplishments of past and present women of aviation while welcoming the women of aviation of the future take place around the world. Various international contests yielding prizes and trophies motivate participation. When Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is held annually during the week of March 8, which marks the anniversary of the first female pilot license worldwide earned by Raymonde de Laroche in 1910 as well as International Women's Day, first observed in 1911 (observed on March 8 starting in 1913). Where Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is observed worldwide. As of 2013, activities have been held in more than thirty countries on four continents. 2 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
Why When Raymonde de Laroche earned the first female pilot license worldwide in 1910, number 36, she constituted nearly 3% of all licensed pilots at the time. More than one hundred years later, the percentage of female pilots hovers around 6% in most developed countries. Similarly, the percentage of female aircraft mechanics stands at less than 3% while the percentage of female aeronautical engineers is around 9%. When comparing the numeric data to that of other previously male dominated activities with similar low percentages of female participation in 1960 (see graph below), the rate of progress in the air and space is extremely slow. Graph - Women at work in the U.S. from 1960-2010 3 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
In 2001, the Air Transport Association of Canada remarked, "A key setback is the limited awareness of the diverse career opportunities and benefits for women in technical fields. For instance, the small percentage of women pilots in Canada has been linked to observations that most women have never thought of an aviation career." Numerous studies point to the fact that, for as long as the aviation industry has existed, it has been described as a male activity leading many qualified women to not even consider the field. Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week addresses the perception issue by encouraging the industry to wholeheartedly celebrate its past and present Women Of Aviation while opening its arms to welcome the Women Of Aviation of the future. Thanks to individual actions and events, the female public is invited to witness the respect that historical women of aviation receive, the support that current women of aviation enjoy, and the industry's interest in welcoming more women. The ultimate aim of Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is to spark aeronautical vocations among the female public. KEY ELEMENTS Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week is characterized by an impressive number of introductory flights for girls and women, friendly competitions, and women-centric activities at airports, aerodromes, museums, and businesses around the world. Special commemoration flights are often conducted. Annual theme Each year, a theme is selected to highlight historical achievements by accomplished Women Of Aviation and guides the subjects of various contests. Fly-It-Forward Challenge Born from the original call to action by the founder of the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide, Mireille Goyer, this challenge encourages all pilots to offer a first small aircraft flight to girls and/or women as a salute to the women in their lives who have influenced their aviation vocations. 4 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
The following titles and trophies are awarded annually: Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide - airport with most non-pilot girls and women introduced to aviation during the week Most Female Pilot Friendly Training Center Worldwide - training center with most non-pilot girls and women introduced to aviation during the week Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide - woman pilot who introduced the most non-pilot girls and women introduced to aviation during the week Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide - non-instructor male pilot who introduced the most non-pilot girls and women introduced to aviation during the week The friendly time-limited competitions add fun and a sense of urgency to act. The worldwide aspect gives participants an opportunity to belong to a significant and noteworthy effort and amplifies the impact of their individual actions. All titles and trophies are awarded based on tangible documented action. List of previous Fly-It-Forward Challenge title winners Year Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide Most Female Pilot Friendly Training Center Worldwide Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide 2010 Oshawa ON, Canada n/a Amanda Sargent Renton, WA, USA Andrei Floroiu New York, NY, USA 2011 Frederick MD, USA n/a Deanna Stanger Port Lavaca, TX, USA Leith Barnhill Arlington, WA, USA 2012 Yellowknife NT, Canada n/a Kirsten Brazier Yellowknife, NT, Canada Derrick Robinson Yellowknife, NT, Canada 2013 St. Andrews MB, Canada Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre Waterloo, ON, Canada Kirsten Brazier Yellowknife, NT, Canada Frank Roberts St. Andrews, MB, Canada 5 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
First-To-Solo Challenge Designed to encourage prompt action after the discovery flight during the week, this challenge offers a prize to the first girl or woman to have discovered flying during the week who flies solo. Art Contest Reserved to girls and women who do not hold any pilot licenses, this contest is an attempt to engage girls and women who may not have access to discovery flights in their surroundings. Furthermore, art has no language barriers and permits participation without borders. Photo Contest Designed to motivate the public at large to pay attention to the current women of aviation, this contest is opened to anyone who takes photos of women of aviation in action within the scope of the subject. HISTORY Born from the 2010 worldwide grassroots effort to celebrate the centennial of the first female pilot license launched by Mireille Goyer, the initiative morphed into an annual week of awareness and outreach in 2011 as the world celebrated the centennial of International Women's Day. The organizing group formally incorporated in 2012 under the name Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide and expanded its original outreach and advocacy mission to include education. The initiative's reach has nearly doubled in size each year since 2010. PARTNERS The success of Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week depends on the collaboration and participation of all the key stakeholders of the air and space industry. Engaged organizations and businesses, all members of the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide consortium, constitute the core of the initiative. 6 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org
INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN OF AVIATION WORLDWIDE (iwoaw) The Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iwoaw) is a not-for-profit consortium of businesses and organizations from around the world whose mission is to foster gender balance in the air and space industry through outreach, education, and advocacy. CONTACT INFORMATION Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week: www.womenofaviationweek.org Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide: www.iwoaw.org media@iwoaw.org 7 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week www.womenofaviationweek.org