Women in Aviation: From the Editor

According to a Women in Aviation International (WAI) study, there are gender gaps, not only in the pilot population but throughout the aviation workforce, with women accounting for less than 10 percent in key roles. The study, a first of its kind, was conducted with the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute with a NASA Nebraska Space Grant. The study of 1,323 respondents from a variety of occupations, found women account for 3 percent of the CEOs in the world’s top 100 airline groups, 2.4 percent of the FAA-certified maintenance technicians, and 5 percent of airline pilots. Only 1 percent of airline pilots are female captains.

Respondents cited expense and perception of a boys’ club as potential obstacles to an aviation career.

The bios of Women Aviators & Members of EAA 430 were published in our 2019 EAA news-letters: Dava McNutt (May), Deb Cox (September), and Colette Miller (December). In this issue, you will meet two of our local aviators, Rachel Sallee and Renee Brilhante. I asked them to write a bio of their experiences in realizing their dreams & goals despite all the obstacles and hindrances they overcame in the years leading up to accomplishing the title of Woman Aviator. Their stories also include the role EAA 430 had in fulfilling their dream of flying.

Emily Westcott was also going to be featured in this month’s newsletter, but because of the restrictions of meeting face to face for the interview, her bio will be in the May newsletter.

Each woman’s story is unique. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Mary (Skip) Brown, Editor

WOMEN IN AVIATION From the Editor The difference between a Pilot and an Aviator:

A Pilot is a technician while an Aviator is an artist in love with flight.

Which are you?