Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) celebrated its 15th anniversary last month at the Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference in San Diego. The two organizations share the same goal-to provide women with scholarships, mentors and the opportunity to network-but WCA grew out of a need to provide a voice to women whose needs weren't met by the various airline groups.
In its first year, the organization consisted of 12 women who had little more than a shared interest in business and corporate aviation. But through its affiliation with organizations such as WAI and NBAA, WCA has slowly been building its presence. "For the last 15 years, WCA has been a growing organization," said WCA archivist Kimberlie Miller. "It started as a way for women in corporate aviation to network and to mentor, and it's grown from there."
In addition to providing networking opportunities and mentors to its members, WCA also provides opportunities for its members to continue their education. "Our biggest accomplishment has been our scholarships," Miller said. "We started with one scholarship a year, and now we're up to three a year. And the amounts continue to increase every year." During the conference, WCA presented two scholarships: a $2,000 career scholarship to Lynchburg, Va. resident and commercial Part 141 student Elizabeth Partie and $1,000 to Brittany Attwood, a high-school senior from Indiana.
"The most daunting obstacle I've faced so far hasn't been the complicated fast-paced Class B clearances or the slightly bewildering offset localizer directional aid course at a nearby local airport, but rather the extensive flight training costs that go along with these fantastic experiences," Partie told WCA members. "It has truly been an adventure, and now an extreme honor to have been chosen as the recipient of the WCA scholarship."
Partie also said it was encouraging to see so many women with similar interests. Michelle Powell, WCA scholarship co-chair, explained that many women feel the same after attending a WAI/WCA event. "It's really energizing because once we go home, we're sometimes the only female in our organization," she said. "I was really heartened by the number of women who were interested and stopped by our booth. The interest in corporate aviation seems to be climbing every year."
Women from every walk of life, every avenue of aviation are welcome to join WCA, Miller said, whether they work as dispatchers, pilots, mechanics, lawyers, ground personnel, travel agents or tax advisors. "Anyone who is in corporate aviation can be a member of our group," she said.
Miller also urged women to attend conferences such as the one hosted by WAI. "Here there are 3,000 other women who have the same passion for the same industry. I've been attending for 10 years, and this is the one place I can network, and get together with friends and family. This feels like home."
By Jennifer Harrington
Aviation International News >> April 2008
Business Aviation
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form