ALPA Champions Women in Aviation at Annual Conference

By Lydia Jakub, Strategic Planning and Resources Specialist
F/O Kaori Paris (United), right background, and Capt. Gail Keys (United), right foreground, promote ALPA and the airline piloting profession.

More than 4,500 aviation and aerospace professionals gathered for the 30th annual Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference March 14–16 in Long Beach, Calif. Positive energy flowed throughout the Long Beach Convention Center as women and men from all sectors of the industry sought to connect, engage, and inspire one another in their professional and personal lives.

“Pilots are in high demand,” noted F/O Costas Sivyllis (United), ALPA’s Education Committee chair. “With women making up less than 6 percent of professional airline pilots, it’s critically important that we help cultivate and advance current and future aviators. The WAI conference, which we’ve supported for nearly two decades, provides a unique platform from which our members can share their knowledge and help both women and men on their path to the flight deck.”

The conference featured a lineup of inspirational speakers, dozens of educational and professional development sessions, and an exhibit hall filled with 170 aviation and aerospace organizations. ALPA’s “Cleared to Dream” booth was in a prime location, drawing hundreds of current and future pilots who wanted to talk about the profession.

F/O Kandy Bernskoetter (FedEx Express), ALPA’s Membership Committee chair, emphasized that “ALPA membership has its privileges.” She and other ALPA volunteers highlighted the vast resources and benefits available for members—e.g., safety, security, and pilot assistance programs; paths for career progression; insurance products; and leadership opportunities.

From left, Capt. Donna Clark (Compass), Kat Clark, and F/O Kandy Bernskoetter (FedEx Express) take time out to pose for a photo near ALPA’s booth.

Expanding networks and enhancing skills

“Now that I have my dream job, I come to connect with fellow women aviators,” said F/O Andrea Weeks (United). She first attended the conference as an airline intern and spent time meeting with recruiters to learn about the cultures at their airlines and to discuss her career goals. Today, Weeks is active in WAI’s Atlanta “Gone With the Wind” Chapter. This was her seventh time at the conference, and she participated in workshops to broaden her leadership skills and strengthen her chapter.

F/O Stacey Jackson (WestJet) also participated in several professional development sessions. As president of WAI’s Upper Canada Chapter and a member of the North Texas Chapter, Jackson is “passionate about helping women achieve their goals.” She’s built a broad network of family, friends, and industry professionals to help facilitate that process.

During Women in Aviation International’s Girls in Aviation Day, a young girl learns about aircraft spacing from F/O Sarah Borg (Delta).

Conversing with airline pilots

In addition to its booth, ALPA hosted a “Coffee Talk” session to discuss life as an airline pilot. More than 80 people attended, including pilots from ALPA and non-ALPA pilot groups, the military, and students at various stages of their training. Small and large group discussions focused on maintaining a work-life balance, family issues, finding a path to the airlines, and other issues. All were actively engaged in sharing their experiences and collaborating on solutions to common challenges.

“It’s been great to talk with other women pilots,” said Amber Richardson, a collegiate aviator who’s involved in ALPA’s ACE Club at Central Washington University. As the daughter of a single mother who was a mechanic in the U.S. Army, Richardson loved traveling and became interested in the piloting profession as a child. The path, however, hasn’t been easy. She noted that it can be intimidating to pursue a career where there are so few women in the field. But Richardson hasn’t allowed these challenges to deter her and has instead become more focused on achieving her dream of becoming a professional airline pilot. She was inspired by ALPA’s Code of Conduct, which emphasizes professionalism, and has sought out women to act as mentors.

Being able to connect with other women and have meaningful conversations helped Capt. Donna Clark (Compass) achieve her dreams of flight. As a new private pilot, Clark attended her first WAI conference in 2002 to explore opportunities within the industry. “It opened my eyes to so many avenues,” she recalled.

F/O Stacey Jackson (WestJet) explains a navigational chart to an event attendee during Women in Aviation International’s Girls in Aviation Day.

Igniting girls’ interest in aviation

This year, Clark brought her nine-year-old daughter, Kat, to the conference. Kat has attended seven times and has enjoyed learning about various careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In fact, Kat plans to be an aerospace engineer. “I like space, and I want to learn more about the TRAPPIST-1 solar system,” she said.

Dreams such as these need to be fostered or they’ll fall to the wayside. Over the past five years, ALPA’s Education Committee has built a robust outreach program to promote the profession, mentor aspiring aviators, and inspire the next generation of pilots. Pilot volunteers visit grade schools and colleges and participate in industry and community events. During the 2017–18 academic year, volunteers reached 15,500-plus grade school students at more than 140 events and 1,800-plus collegiate aviators at more than 24 universities.

“It’s important for young girls to see and talk with women working in STEM fields, especially pilots in uniform,” noted F/O Sara Baer (Alaska), a member of ALPA’s Education Committee and chair of the Alaska pilots’ Education Committee. “They’re left with a lasting impression that they, too, can achieve their dreams.”

WAI’s Girls in Aviation Day provides a critical link for this outreach. At this year’s conference, more than 250 girls ages 8 to 17 participated in an all-day event designed to spark their interest in aviation. They attended a career panel to learn about various options, conducted hands-on activities, and toured the exhibit hall to speak with industry representatives. Baer, Jackson, F/O Sarah Borg (Delta), and Capt. Alysha Shaw (PSA) participated in the activities portion of the event. They helped at three different stations, teaching girls about air traffic control and aircraft spacing, ground navigation, and how to fly on a simulator.

The 2019 WAI conference was a tremendous success. ALPA’s Education and Membership Committees plan to build upon the momentum to further strengthen their programs. Be sure to mark your calendar and join ALPA at the 2020 WAI conference March 5–7 in Orlando, Fla.

Are you interested in becoming a professional airline pilot? Visit Cleared to Dream.

This article was originally published in the April 2019 issue of Air Line Pilot.

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