The 34th annual Women in Aviation International Conference concluded on Saturday evening after bringing in a record of more than 4,500 attendees, including 136 international representatives from 32 countries. Held February 23 to 25 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, the event featured a sold-out exhibit hall of nearly 200 companies and organizations representing the gamut of the industry and reached 167 WAI chapters in 23 countries.
“WAI’s strength is in our membership. A more passionate, diverse, and inclusive group doesn’t exist anywhere in the industry. This week’s conference brought our largest group of members together with the most exhibitors and hiring companies in history,” said WAI CEO Allison McKay, noting the dozens of networking and education sessions, along with an array of keynote speakers.
As is a traditional feature of the annual event, the conference once again proved a valuable forum for scholarships with 123 valued at nearly $900,000 distributed to WAI members for academic use, lifestyle enhancement, and fight training, including type ratings. WAI has served as host to more than $15.4 million in scholarships awarded since 1995.
This year, WAI is expanding its scholarship program through a partnership with Harvard University on an Emerging Leaders professional development program. Applications are due March 15 for the three-day program.
Along with scholarships, several milestones were celebrated including the 30th anniversaries of Women in Corporate Aviation and Women in Combat Operations, along with 50 years of Women Flying in Naval aviation and the 20th year for Wings with Jazz Band performance at the conference.
The annual induction to WAI’s International Pioneer Hall of Fame included Nancy Bird, founder of the Australian Women Pilots Association; Martha and John King, co-owners of the King Schools; and Col. Merryl Tengesdal, USAF (ret.), the first and only Black woman to pilot the U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.
Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) Long Beach was held in tandem with WAI on February 25, drawing 250 girls ages eight to 18, who participated in up to 20 activity stations and heard about various aviation careers. Stephanie Chung, Wheels Up global brand ambassador, was a keynote speaker during GIAD. Representatives from a range of universities were on hand to discuss opportunities with the girls.
