The free community event is hosted by the Mountain State Chapter of WAI and local aerospace industry partners and encourages participation in aviation activities and STEM
West Virginia Press Association
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — “All it takes is one spark of interest to create a lifelong passion in aviation,” said Paige Skaggs, president of the Mountain State Chapter of Women in Aviation International. That’s the goal of the organization’s upcoming Girls in Aviation Day event – introduce young girls in north central West Virginia to the wild and wonderful world of aviation.
The event is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, located at 1050 Industrial Road East, Bridgeport, WV 26330. This will be the third time the event has been held here, with hundreds of families participating over the years.
“We’ve been able to grow the interest and participation in Girls in Aviation Day each year,” said Skaggs. “It’s been really special to see not only new faces learning about aviation at our event, but to see some of the same families come back with even more excitement than the first time.”
And excitement is sure to be abundant this year – a new addition for the event will be the landing of a US Army Blackhawk Helicopter to join the festivities. The helicopter will land at 10 a.m. and be on site until noon, with aircraft from the Fairmont State University aviation program on display for the day as well.
Activities will also abound. From flight simulators and a drone obstacle course to aviation-themed jewelry making and crafts, there will be a plethora of opportunities for a hands-on view of what happens in the aviation world.
“That’s really the purpose of the day,” said Skaggs. “We want attendees to get a hands-on experience with what aviation can look like. Seeing a plane up close and personal, trying your hand at riveting the sheet metal that becomes a plane, even making foam gliders and seeing how far you can get them to go – it all creates an avenue for kids to see the different things ‘aviation’ can mean and get excited about it.”
Not only can that spark an interest in aviation as a hobby, but as a future career as well.
“The tight labor market in aviation can be directly linked to the lack of women in the roles of aviation mechanics, pilots, organizational CEOs, engineers, and more,” said Tracy Miller, president of the Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex and a member of Mountain State WAI. “Girls in Aviation Day is an opportunity to show every girl attending our event that she belongs in aviation.”
The abundant aviation industry in north central West Virginia is the perfect place to explore those careers.
“We’re really fortunate to be a home of not only two commercial airlines, but to have so many aerospace-related businesses call the North Central West Virginia Airport and surrounding area home,” said Shawn Long, deputy director of the airport. “There are a plethora of career opportunities here, and we’re proud to support this group in helping the kids of our community see what’s possible.”
The Mountain State Chapter’s event is free to the public. While it is geared toward middle and high school age girls, it is open to all children up to the age of 18, all of whom must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All attendees, both children and adults, must pre-register to attend at https://tinyurl.com/yck4ruhv. Registration will also be available on-site the day of the event.
Visit the event’s Facebook page for updates and additional information on participants, giveaways, and more: Mountain State Girls in Aviation Day | Facebook
