On September 23, the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance’s Bay Area Chapter and Mount Diablo Pilots Association will host the East Bay’s first ever Girls in Aviation Day. My fellow Supervisors and I commemorated the upcoming event by declaring September 23, 2023 Girls in Aviation Day.
At next weekend’s fully booked event, taking place at Buchanan Field in Concord, girls will participate in various aviation-related activities such as aviation communication, aircraft assembly and inspection, safety, physics of flying, moon habitat and flying in a simulator.
There’s a long list of women in aviation history, including aircraft designer and builder E. Lillian Todd in 1906; Helen Richey, who became the first woman pilot for a U.S. commercial airline in 1934; and astronaut Eileen Collins, who became the first female Space Shuttle pilot in 1997 and the first female Space Shuttle Commander in 1999.
However, fewer than 10% of licensed pilots are women, women are only 11.6% of all aerospace engineers, and less than 17% of air traffic controllers are women.
To address this pipeline problem, Women in Aviation International organized the very first International Girls in Aviation Day in 2015, and the event has grown every year.
To see examples of what the girls will be learning, check out this video of last year’s events across the country and the world.
About this event
WHO: Girls ages 8-18, with accompanying adult, will arrive by 8:45 AM and participate in various activities—including aviation communication, physics of flying, aircraft repair, structure fabrication and jewelry making. Bring your lunch to sit at a table with a pilot or technician and ask questions! Some of the Pilots will be giving tours of their aircraft and answering flying questions after lunch too!!
LUNCH: Pizza and Salad will be available, or you can bring your lunch – and – enjoy spending time talking to our Aviation Volunteers: Pilots, Mechanics, Inspectors and more.
COST: FREE 😀
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 2023 8:45AM to 2PM
WHERE: Mount Diablo Pilots Association at Buchanan Field Clubhouse (KCCR) 200 Buchanan Field Rd, Concord, CA 94520
WEBPAGE: for updates &/or additional information please check www.awam16.org/giad
LEGAL STUFF: GIAD EAST BAY RELEASE FORM (https://awam16.org/giad-east-bay-release)
• For every adult checking in a young lady (or young ladies) please bring State or Federal Identification for verification.
• If a young lady will be checking in with an adult other than their legal guardian or parent we ask that a copy of the legal guardian/parent’s State or Federal ID be emailed with the release.
• If a minor arrives without a parent or legal guardian to check in or without a signed release with identification submitted in advance – we will not be able to allow them to participate.
For more events in Contra Costa County, visit our events calendar — click here
