Girls in Aviation Day

Description

Local Women’s Aviation Group Schedules Girls in Aviation Day September 19 in Melbourne Melbourne, FL, September 8, 2026 --

 Preschoolers to high schoolers will be exploring aviation and aerospace careers during the 2026 Girls in Aviation Day scheduled from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, September 19 at the Sheltair facility at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Open to anyone wanting to explore careers in aviation and aerospace, the free event is organized by The 321 Chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI) and Sheltair.

 To register at Eventbrite click here. “Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) is a global event attracting more than 40,000 girls worldwide every year to celebrate aviation and explore the many careers it offers,” said Chapter President Amanda Roberts. “This event will have fun aviation-related STEM activities including learning the aviation alphabet and paper airplane contests. Attendees will also be able to meet their next steps whether it is a Discovery Flight from the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter or find the career and technical education programs provided by Brevard Public Schools.” Exhibitors include Eastern Florida State College, Dassault, STS, Embraer, flight schools, Brevard science museum, robotics clubs and a coding club. Health First is bringing its rescue helicopter, and the Orlando Melbourne International Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) are staging their equipment at the Sheltair facility. A number of local aviation and aerospace companies along and local organizations such as the 99th Squadron and the Tuskegee Airmen will exhibit along with Brevard’s aviation elementary/middle school, Learning Forward Education Center. “We are easily expecting to exceed the 450 attendees last year with several Girl Scout Troops planning to come,” said Roberts. “There has never been a better time to pursue an aviation career. We are on the Space Coast with many aviation companies needing to meet their future workforce.

 So, this event is an opportunity for girls and women to learn more about civilian and military aviation careers, education pathways and tremendous opportunities for high-value, high-paying aviation jobs. We want to broaden our outreach to help Brevard students and second-career professionals realize that no matter whether your interest is airplanes, music or art, there is a place for you in aviation.” Aviation and aerospace are facing a critical workforce shortage affecting the growing aviation cluster and launch companies in Brevard. Every aviation discipline needs new workers including operations, flight dispatch, meteorology, marketing, IT, manufacturing, airline and airport management, insurance, training, business aviation and helicopters. CAE 2025-2034 Talent Forecast sees a need for 1,465,000 new pilots, aviation maintenance engineers and cabin crew in the next decade. But that doesn’t include airports, state and federal workforces, business aviation, space, education, or general aviation. There will be a need for 210,000 assemblers and fabricators annual vacancies by 2033. Over this decade the industry will need 3,800 aerospace engineers annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. commercial aerospace segment alone could require an additional 123,000 technicians in the next two decades along with 3.8 million manufacturing jobs by 2033 in Aerospace & Defense. 

Speakers will introduce attendees and their families to aviation career pathways as well as funding resources and strategies to help them pursue their high-flying dreams. Girls in Aviation Day will include local aviation professionals, a raffle and free ice cream. About The 321 Chapter of WAI The 321 Chapter of WAI is made up of women aviation professionals in the greater Melbourne area. Its mission is to raise the visibility of aviation and business aviation career opportunities. Women in Aviation International is a global organization with more than 20,000 members including 5,000 junior members. It’s scholarship programs provides over $600,000 in scholarships annually.