GOSHEN, Ind. (WNDU) – A program called Girls With Altitude gave girls hands-on experience in aviation at Goshen Municipal Airport, connecting them with women pilots, mechanics and engineers — and putting them in the cockpit.
Women make up only 10% of the aviation industry. Organizers said the event is designed to show young women that a career in aviation is possible.
During the event, girls helped build parts of an airplane rudder and spoke with mechanics, pilots and engineers. They also took tours flying in a plane.
Natalie Whitaker, president of the Goshen chapter of Women With Wings and one of the event’s sponsors, said accessibility is a key barrier for women entering the field.
“I’m a first generation pilot and if you don’t know people in aviation it can be super intimidating,” Whitaker said. “So, our chapter here in Goshen, the biggest thing is getting women together and just being able to talk about it and just be around people in aviation.”
Kelsie Kosiba, an aviation ambassador with Purdue University’s Aviation Transportation Technology Office, said early exposure can accelerate a young woman’s path in aviation.
“I would take a discovery flight. I really loved it and was like, you know what, aviation is for me,” Kosiba said. “If you could start that a little bit earlier, you can get your private pilot license at 17.”
This is only the second year organizers have hosted the event, and attendance has already doubled.
Davonne Kramer, founder and executive director of Regality Inc., which sponsored the event, said the reaction from participants has driven that growth.
“I think just seeing the excitement of the girls taking their first ride. The empowerment of building a rudder and letting them write their names on it and we take some fun photos as well,” Kramer said. “And just the space for girls to dream and grow.”
Organizers said they hope events like this one can add to that 10% — one flight at a time.
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