See them soar: Girls attend event at Wellcamp Airport

Wellcamp Airport hosts inspiring session for the fearless female future behind the aviation industry on International Women’s Day

SKY HIGH: As part of International Women's Day, Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project have partnered with Cool Aeronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society's STEM outreach program to coordinate and host an event at Wellcamp airport for the industry's future fearless females to find out more about aviation. Picture: Garry Wilkinson.

As part of International Women’s Day, Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project has partnered with Cool Aeronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society’s STEM outreach program to coordinate and host an event at Wellcamp airport for the industry’s future fearless females to find out more about aviation.

To celebrate women’s achievements in aviation female students from Aerospace Gateway Schools including Wilsonton State High School, St Mary’s College in Ipswich and Brisbane’s Aviation High School received a rare insight into the range of aerospace and aviation careers the exist at an airport.

As part of International Women's Day, Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project have partnered with Cool Aeronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society's STEM outreach program to coordinate and host an event at Wellcamp airport for the industry's future fearless females to find out more about aviation. Picture: Garry Wilkinson.

The event allowed female students aged 11 to 15 years to focus on the career pathways and opportunities available for women in technical, operational, regulatory, and corporate roles.

Some of these roles included pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, aviation safety officers, ground operations managers, air traffic control operators and working with unmanned aircraft.

Project Manager for the Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project, Natalie Ryan, said AGISP are committed to exposing students to potential aerospace career options here in Queensland.

“Currently women account for less than five per cent of pilots and aircraft engineers globally,” she said.

As part of International Women's Day, Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project have partnered with Cool Aeronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society's STEM outreach program to coordinate and host an event at Wellcamp airport for the industry's future fearless females to find out more about aviation. Picture: Garry Wilkinson.

“This event will highlight the opportunity for increased female contribution in these roles and more, as the industry continues to grow and recover from the effects of COVID-19.

“We are excited to work with Cool Aeronautics, Wellcamp airport and Qantas Pilot Academy to host this event.

“Not only will students see and hear from experts in their field, but also visualise themselves taking that path.”

Queensland chair of Royal Aeronautical Society Australian Division, Mal Benfer said providing girls with the opportunity to experience the thrill of aviation from a young age will go a long way towards inspiring them to choose the challenge and join an industry that is currently under-represented by females.

As part of International Women's Day, Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Project have partnered with Cool Aeronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society's STEM outreach program to coordinate and host an event at Wellcamp airport for the industry's future fearless females to find out more about aviation. Picture: Garry Wilkinson.

“Our STEM outreach program, Cool Aeronautics, aims to introduce school children to the fascinating world and people of aerospace, and what better place to do this than at Wellcamp Airport, along with the Qantas Pilot Academy, AGISP and the inspiring women of aerospace that are joining us for the day and sharing their knowledge and experience,” he said.

Qantas Fleet Manager 787, Captain Lisa Norman also took the time to speak with students about her career in aviation and said the airline was proud to be part of this event.

“It’s really important that young girls get to see women in these roles first-hand,” she said.

“Then hopefully these students will be able to consider a career in the aviation industry for themselves.”