Girls In Aviation Day Assumes Even Greater International Importance

by Liz Seyi Digital marketing manager

Gender equality in the workplace should be just as much a concern for the typical Aviation Recruiter as it is for other types of recruiter. Furthermore, the issue has been brought even more to the forefront as of late by images of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) recent Annual General Meeting in Sydney, which showed an almost all-male board of governors.

As if that wasn't jarring enough for those fighting to ensure women's fair representation in the workplaces of aviation employers, Runway Girl Network reported that the event also saw a panel of six men debate what to do about the "woman problem" in aviation.

It is on such a backdrop that this year's Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD), helmed by Women in Aviation International (WAI), looms on 13th October.

What's planned for the 2018 event?

Girls in Aviation Day is not a single event, but instead a series of activities hosted by WAI chapters around the world. Nor are the countries taking part restricted to the obvious aviation leaders, as the likes of the UK, US, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands are joined this year by Botswana, India, Nigeria and Kenya; the complete list can be viewed on the WAI website.

The US alone – in which TARCG has an office at Brentwood, Tennessee – is hosting 44 events, with those unable to find activities local to them invited to participate in the online event organised by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU).

Women using the services of an aviation recruiter like TARCG may also be interested to know of the special Girls in Aviation Day held each year during WAI's annual conference, with the next one set to take place in Long Beach, California from 14th to 16th March 2019.

Big expectations for this year's activities

The 74 Girls in Aviation Day events held in 2017 attracted an estimated 9,700 participants - a number that WAI is aiming to surpass this year. More than 18,450 girls have now attended a GIAD event in the four years since its establishment in 2015.

In the words of WAI spokesperson Molly Martin, "the events reflect the diversity of the WAI membership, both in location and in the variety of planning groups, featured events and professions, activities and culture."

Here at TARCG, we certainly can't wait to see how the 2018 GIAD goes. Indeed, we strive for gender equality ourselves, as shown by the almost equal representation of genders across our workforce. We there for wish WAI every success as it continues to build on its already-stellar efforts in service of women in aviation, as well as those interested in a career in the sector.